Peripapillary changes in glaucoma.

Three observers, unaware of the clinical status of the patients and using projected 35-mm color transparencies, independently graded the degree of peripapillary halo and atrophy in 240 eyes. Analysis of the results revealed that, although patients with glaucoma had more prominent (4+) halos, the average degree of halo was statistically identical for both the glaucomatous and normal eyes. Peripapillary atrophy, on the other hand, was significantly (P less than .01) more extensive in glaucomatous eyes, and 4+ atrophy was seen primarily in eyes with more advanced disease of long duration.