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Abstract #10235 Published in IGR 6-1
Enlargement of parapapillary atrophy in follow-up of chronic open-angle glaucoma
Budde WM; Jonas JBAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology 2004; 137: 646-654
PURPOSE: To assess the frequency of an enlargement of parapapillary atrophy in the follow-up of eyes with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Prospective observational longitudinal study. PATIENTS: The study included 978 eyes (511 Caucasian subjects) with open-angle glaucoma (n = 548; including 194 eyes with normal-pressure glaucoma), ocular hypertension (n = 289), or without optic nerve disease (n = 141). Highly myopic eyes with a myopic refractive error exceeding −8 D were excluded. Mean follow-up was 4.5 ± 2.4 years (median, 3.8 years; range: 1.5-9.8 years). OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Optic disc photographs taken annually. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two examiners compared optic disc slides for enlargement of parapapillary atrophy (zone beta) and for signs of progressive disc damage. RESULTS: An enlargement of parapapillary beta zone was detected in 16 eyes (1.6%) after 3.9 ± 2.6 (0.6-9.1) years of follow-up. It was observed in 15 eyes (2.7%) with open-angle glaucoma, one eye (0.3%) with ocular hypertension, and in none of the normal eyes. After excluding eyes with a myopic refractive error exceeding −3 D, enlargement of beta zone was significantly more common in eyes with progressive glaucoma (5/81 or 6.2%) than in eyes with nonprogressive glaucoma (3/354 or 0.8%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Parapapillary atrophy (zone beta) enlarges during follow-up of relatively few eyes with chronic open-angle glaucoma. In the refractive range above −3 D, enlargement of beta zone occurs significantly more frequently (p < 0.001) in progressive glaucoma than in nonprogressive glaucoma. In view of its low frequency, enlargement of beta zone may not be a very useful marker for glaucoma progression.
Classification:
2.12 Choroid, peripapillary choroid, peripapillary atrophy (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
