PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the differences between measurements of neuroretinal rim area of the optic disc defined by configuration and by pallor. METHODS: One hundred seventy-one patients were studied (59 with glaucoma, 96 ocular hypertensive patients, and 16 controls). The magnification-corrected neuroretinal rim area was measured from black-and-white stereoscopic paper prints. The central area of pallor was measured using computer-assisted image analysis techniques. The percentage of central area of pallor was converted into mm2, and an estimate of neuroretinal rim area defined by color was calculated. RESULTS: The correlation between the measurements of neuroretinal rim area by configuration and by pallor was statistically highly significant (r = 0.89, P less than 0.0001). No consistent differences between measurements were found in different diagnostic groups, or in different stages or types of glaucomatous optic disc abnormality. The correlation of changes of both measurements during a 9-year follow-up period also was statistically significant (r = 0.68, P less than 0.001). CONCLUSION: In clinical routine measurements of the neuroretinal rim area, using both configuration and pallor definition does not seem to add to the information.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the differences between measurements of neuroretinal rim area of the optic disc defined by configuration and by pallor. METHODS: One hundred seventy-one patients were studied (59 with glaucoma, 96 ocular hypertensivepatients, and 16 controls). The magnification-corrected neuroretinal rim area was measured from black-and-white stereoscopic paper prints. The central area of pallor was measured using computer-assisted image analysis techniques. The percentage of central area of pallor was converted into mm2, and an estimate of neuroretinal rim area defined by color was calculated. RESULTS: The correlation between the measurements of neuroretinal rim area by configuration and by pallor was statistically highly significant (r = 0.89, P less than 0.0001). No consistent differences between measurements were found in different diagnostic groups, or in different stages or types of glaucomatous optic disc abnormality. The correlation of changes of both measurements during a 9-year follow-up period also was statistically significant (r = 0.68, P less than 0.001). CONCLUSION: In clinical routine measurements of the neuroretinal rim area, using both configuration and pallor definition does not seem to add to the information.