Gliosis-like retinal alterations in glaucoma patients.

SUMMARY: Morphological alterations resembling fine epiretinal gliosis in the midperiphery of the retina of glaucoma patients were examined biomicroscopically. Examination with a laser-scanning ophthalmoscope (Zeiss CLSO) incorporating an argon laser confirmed sharply bordered, patchy retinal alterations in the superficial layers. These alterations were predominantly in the Bjerrum area but did not conform to the shape of the nerve fiber bundles. Patchy retinal alterations were found to be absent or rare in nonglaucomatous controls (0 of 15 controls) but to occur quite often in people with glaucoma. Although all glaucoma patients examined had typical optic nerve heads and visual field damage, the prevalence of patchy retinal alterations was especially high in the group with progressive damage despite successfully reduced intraocular pressure (13 of 15; 86.7%); the alterations were only slightly less prevalent in the normal-tension-glaucoma group (11 of 16; 68.8%).