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Biomedical subjects

Wido M Budde

Publications and source records attributed to Wido M Budde.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Central corneal thickness correlated with glaucoma damage and rate of progression.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the amount of glaucomatous optic nerve damage at presentation of the patient and the rate of progression of glaucoma during follow-up are related to central corneal thickness. METHODS: The prospective observational clinical study included 861 eyes of 454 white subjects (239 normal eyes of 121 subjects, 250 ocular hypertensive eyes of 118 patients, 372 eyes of 215 patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma). For 567 eyes (304 patients) with ocular hypertension or chronic open-angle glaucoma, follow-up examinations were performed, with a mean follow-up time of 62.7 +/- 33.2 months (median, 60.8; range, 6.2-124.9). All patients underwent qualitative and morphometric evaluation of color stereo optic disc photographs and white-on-white visual field examination. Central corneal thickness was measured by corneal pachymetry. RESULTS: Central corneal thickness correlated significantly (P < 0.001) and positively with the area of the neuroretinal rim and negatively with the loss of visual field. Development or progression of glaucomatous visual field defects detected in 119 (21.0%) eyes was statistically independent of central corneal thickness, in univariate (P = 0.99) and multivariate Cox regression analyses (P = 0.19). CONCLUSIONS: At the time of patient referral, the amount of glaucomatous optic nerve damage correlated significantly with a thin central cornea. Progression of glaucomatous optic nerve neuropathy was independent of central corneal thickness, suggesting that central corneal thickness may not play a major role in the pathogenesis of progressive glaucomatous optic nerve damage.

Adolescent↗

Intravitreal reinjection of triamcinolone for exudative age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of repeated intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: This prospective, comparative nonrandomized clinical interventional study included 13 patients with progressive exudative age-related macular degeneration with occult, or predominantly occult, subfoveal neovascularization. All patients had shown an increase or stabilization of visual acuity after a first intravitreal injection of 25 mg of triamcinolone acetonide. They received a second intravitreal injection of 25 mg of triamcinolone acetonide 3.1 to 18 months after the first injection. Mean +/- SD follow-up time after the second injection was 5.2 +/- 3.6 months (median, 5.3 months). A control group included 24 patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration who did not receive treatment for their maculopathy. The main outcome measures were visual acuity and intraocular pressure. RESULTS: In the study group, mean +/- SD visual acuity increased significantly (P =.005 and P =.003, respectively) from 0.17 +/- 0.11 to 0.32 +/- 0.26 and from 0.15 +/- 0.14 to 0.23 +/- 0.19, respectively, after the first and second injections. An increase in visual acuity was found for 10 patients (77%) after the first and second injections. In the control group, visual acuity did not vary significantly during follow-up (P =.81). The difference in change in visual acuity between the study group and control group was significant (P =.01 [Snellen lines] and P =.05 [logMAR units]). The peak in visual acuity and, in a chronologically parallel manner, the peak in intraocular pressure elevation occurred 2 to 5 months after each injection. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated intravitreal injection of 25 mg of triamcinolone acetonide may lead to an increase in visual acuity in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration, with the peak in visual acuity and intraocular pressure elevation occurring about 2 to 5 months after each injection.

Aged↗

Enlargement of parapapillary atrophy in follow-up of chronic open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency of an enlargement of parapapillary atrophy in follow-up of eyes with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Prospective observational longitudinal study. SETTING: Institutional. 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 diopters were excluded. Mean follow-up was 4.5 +/- 2.4 years (median, 3.8 years; range: 1.5 to 9.8 years). OBSERVATION PROCEDURES: Optic disk photographs taken annually. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two examiners compared optic disk slides for enlargement of parapapillary atrophy (zone beta) and for signs of progressive disk damage. RESULTS: An enlargement of parapapillary beta zone was detected in 16 eyes (1.6%) after 3.9 +/- 2.6 (0.6 to 9.1) years of follow-up. It was observed in 15 eyes (2.7%) with open-angle glaucoma, 1 eye (0.3%) with ocular hypertension, and in none of the normal eyes. After excluding eyes with a myopic refractive error exceeding -3 diopters, 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 <.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 diopters, enlargement of beta zone occurs significantly more frequently (P <.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.

Adolescent↗

Optical coherence tomography and confocal scanning laser tomography for assessment of macular edema.

PURPOSE: To compare optical coherence tomography (OCT) and confocal scanning laser tomography (cSLT) for quantitative retinal thickness mapping of the macula and their ability to detect macular edema. DESIGN: Prospective, comparative, clinical observational study. METHODS: The study population of 138 eyes (97 patients) was divided into a study group consisting of 45 (32.6%) eyes with macular edema and a control group consisting of 93 (67.4%) eyes without macular edema. All patients underwent OCT and cSLT of the macula. Retinal thickness measurements obtained by OCT were compared with signal width and edema index, determined by cSLT. RESULTS: The OCT measurements and cSLT edema index were significantly (P <.001) correlated with each other. Correlation coefficients decreased (P <.001) with increasing diameter of the measurement circle. In the macular edema group, correlation coefficients were significantly (P <.001) higher than in the control group. To separate the study and control groups, receiver operator characteristic curves covered a larger area for OCT measurements than for cSLT measurements. Retinal thickness measurements and edema index correlate with visual acuity (correlation coefficient r = -.653 for OCT, r = -.608 for cSLT; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Macular edema can be quantitatively mapped by OCT and cSLT. The retinal thickness and edema index measurements correlate with visual acuity. The fast and standard examination modes of OCT give similar measurements. Both OCT and cSLT can differentiate between eyes with and without macular edema, with OCT showing a higher predictive value.

Aged↗

The optic disc hemifield test.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether an optic disc hemifield test comparing the superior half of the optic disc with the inferior disc half is useful for glaucoma diagnosis. METHODS: The clinical observational study included 1268 patients with primary or secondary open-angle glaucoma and 649 normal subjects. The glaucoma group was divided into 1118 patients with glaucomatous visual field defects ("perimetric glaucoma"), and 150 patients with optic nerve head changes and normal visual fields ("preperimetric glaucoma"). Color stereo optic disc photographs were morphometrically evaluated. The optic disc area was divided into four sectors: temporal horizontal (60 degrees), superotemporal (90 degrees), inferotemporal (90 degrees), and nasal (120 degrees). Area and width of the neuroretinal rim were measured, and the ratio of superotemporal-to-inferotemporal rim area, the ratio of superior (12 o'clock)-to-inferior (6 o'clock) rim width, the difference of inferotemporal minus superotemporal rim area, and the difference of inferior rim width minus superior rim width were calculated. RESULTS: For the differentiation between the normal group and the whole glaucoma group, and for the differentiation between the normal group and the preperimetric glaucoma group, respectively, areas under the ROC curves were significantly smaller for the parameters of the optic disc hemifield test (superior-to-inferior rim width ratio: 0.448 and 0.412, respectively; and superotemporal-to-inferotemporal rim area ratio: 0.395 and 0.434, respectively) than for any other rim parameter tested such as inferotemporal rim area (0.827 and 0.745, reps.), total rim area (0.814 and 0.741, respectively), and superotemporal rim area (0.781 and 0.705, respectively). DISCUSSION: An optic disc hemifield test with the parameters superior-to-inferior rim width ratio and superotemporal-to-inferotemporal rim area ratio is not markedly helpful for the morphometric diagnosis of glaucomatous optic nerve damage, either in the preperimetric stage or in the perimetric stage of the disease.

Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological↗

Predictive factors of the optic nerve head for development or progression of glaucomatous visual field loss.

PURPOSE: To evaluate which morphologic features of the optic disc are predictive factors for the development or progression of visual field loss in chronic open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: The prospective observational clinical study included 763 eyes of 416 white subjects with ocular hypertension and chronic open-angle glaucoma. During the follow-up time (mean, 67.4 months; median, 65.1; range, 6.2-104.5), all patients underwent repeated qualitative and morphometric evaluation of color stereo optic disc photographs and white-on-white visual field examination. Progression of glaucomatous visual field damage was defined by point-wise regression analysis for each of the 59 locations in the visual field. Outcome measures were qualitative and quantitative morphologic optic nerve head parameters. RESULTS: Development or progression of glaucomatous visual field defects was detected in 106 (13.9%) eyes. At baseline of the study, neuroretinal rim area was significantly (P < 0.002) smaller, the beta zone of parapapillary atrophy (P < 0.003, nasal sector) was significantly larger, and age was significantly higher (P < 0.003) in the progressive study group than in the nonprogressive study group. Both study groups did not vary significantly in size of the optic disc and the alpha zone of parapapillary atrophy. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that the progression of glaucomatous visual field loss depended significantly on the area of the neuroretinal rim (P < 0.001) and age (P < 0.001), but was independent of diameter of the retinal arterioles and veins. CONCLUSIONS: Morphologic predictive factors for development or progression of glaucomatous visual field defects in whites are small neuroretinal rim area and large beta zone of parapapillary atrophy. Age is an additional nonmorphologic parameter. Progression of glaucomatous optic nerve head changes is independent of the size of the optic disc and alpha-zone of parapapillary atrophy and retinal vessel diameter.

Chronic Disease↗

Optic disc morphometry correlated with confocal laser scanning Doppler flowmetry measurements in normal-pressure glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between morphologic optic disc parameters and hemodynamic parameters as measured by confocal laser scanning Doppler flowmetry in patients with normal-pressure glaucoma. METHODS: The study included 91 eyes of 54 patients with normal-pressure glaucoma (mean age: 57.7 +/- 9.8 years), and 136 eyes of 77 age-adjusted normal controls. Color stereo optic disc photographs were morphometrically examined, and confocal laser scanning flowmetry (Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter) in the neuroretinal rim inside of the optic disc, and in the retina close to the temporal and nasal border of the optic nerve head was performed. RESULTS: Mean confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements in the neuroretinal rim, temporal parapapillary retina, and nasal parapapillary retina were significantly (P<0.03) lower in the normal-pressure glaucoma group than in the age-adjusted control group. Correspondingly, mean confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements within the neuroretinal rim decreased significantly, with relatively low correlation coefficients, decreasing neuroretinal rim area (P = 0.016; correlation coefficient r2 = 0.026), and increasing mean visual field defect (P = 0.011; r2 = 0.029). Measurements were statistically independent of alpha zone (P = 0.38; r2 = 0.004) and beta zone (P = 0.57; r2 = 0.002) of parapapillary atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements within the neuroretinal rim were lower in eyes with normal-pressure glaucoma than in age-matched normal eyes. Confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements decrease with increasing glaucomatous optic nerve damage. There is, however, a marked variability preventing a clear relationship between stage of glaucoma and decrease in confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements. The correlation between parapapillary atrophy and confocal laser scanning flowmetric measurements is not statistically significant in normal-pressure glaucoma.

Aged↗

Glaucomatous optic disc hemorrhages on confocal scanning laser tomographic images.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the detectability of glaucomatous optic disc hemorrhages by confocal scanning laser tomography. METHODS: The study included 73 eyes of 63 patients, who consecutively showed optic disc hemorrhages on 15 degrees color optic disc photographs taken at baseline or during follow-up examinations and for whom confocal scanning laser tomographic images were additionally available. Of the total number of 92 observed hemorrhages, 51 hemorrhages extended into the parapapillary region and 41 hemorrhages were restricted to the intrapapillary region. The scanning laser tomographic images were searched for the disc hemorrhages already seen on the conventional disc photographs. RESULTS: Using the reflectivity images, 29 (32%) hemorrhages were detected on the scanning laser tomographs. None of the hemorrhages restricted to the intrapapillary region could be seen on the scanning laser tomographs. By evaluating each of the 32 single images of the scanning laser tomographic image series, 44 (48%) of the hemorrhages were identified on at least one single image. The detectability of disc hemorrhages on the scanning laser tomographs depended significantly on their extension into the parapapillary region or their intrapapillary location. Detectability of disc bleedings was statistically independent of the disc quadrant where the hemorrhage was located, width of the bleeding, size of the optic disc, neuroretinal rim, parapapillary atrophy, and type of glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Confocal scanning laser tomography is not very suitable for detection or documentation of optic disc hemorrhages in patients with glaucoma.

Adult↗

Influence of cilioretinal arteries on neuroretinal rim and parapapillary atrophy in glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The pattern of neuroretinal rim loss and increase in the area of parapapillary atrophy in glaucoma depend on the localization of the central retinal vessel trunk in the lamina cribrosa. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether, in a similar way, the pattern of rim loss and progression of parapapillary atrophy are influenced by the presence and position of cilioretinal arteries. METHODS: Color stereo optic disc photographs (15 degrees) for morphometric evaluation of the optic nerve head were used to compare the appearance of the optic disc in 41 patients exhibiting unilateral or bilateral cilioretinal arteries in the temporal horizontal disc region with the optic disc morphology of 127 patients without cilioretinal arteries. The areas of the neuroretinal rim and alpha and beta zones of parapapillary atrophy were measured in the total disc and in four disc sectors. RESULTS: Eyes with and eyes without cilioretinal arteries did not differ significantly in the areas of neuroretinal rim and alpha and beta zones of parapapillary atrophy, when measured in the whole optic disc and in the four disc sectors separately; in ratios of the temporal horizontal area to total area of rim and parapapillary atrophy; and in the ratio of temporal horizontal rim area-to-nasal rim area, neither in an interindividual comparison nor in an intraindividual intereye comparison. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the position of the central retinal vessel trunk, presence and position of cilioretinal arteries do not markedly influence the pattern of neuroretinal rim loss and progression of parapapillary atrophy in glaucoma.

Chronic Disease↗

Visual outcome after allogenic penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To evaluate visual outcome after allogenic penetrating keratoplasty. METHODS: The clinical non-randomized retrospective comparative interventional study included 245 patients undergoing allogenic penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus ( n=77), herpetic corneal scars ( n=29), non-herpetic corneal scars ( n=46), Fuchs endothelial dystrophy ( n=24), and pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy ( n=69). All patients were consecutively operated on by the same surgeon. The duration of follow-up had to exceed 1 year. RESULTS: Increase in visual acuity and the best-corrected postoperative visual acuity were significantly ( P<0.01) highest for the patients with keratoconus (visual acuity increase from 0.16 to 0.69), followed by those with herpetic corneal scars (from 0.18 to 0.58), Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy (from 0.13 to 0.48), non-herpetic corneal scars (from 0.13 to 0.36), and finally patients with pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy (from 0.05 to 0.28). The increase in visual acuity expressed in lines did not vary significantly ( P>0.05) among the study groups. Visual acuity increased significantly after suture removal, with no significant ( P>0.20) difference between the study groups. Visual acuity was significantly ( P<0.001) and positively correlated with the diameter of the corneal graft. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that graft size, keratometric astigmatism and reason for keratoplasty were the major factors significantly ( P<0.05) influencing postoperative visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: The main predictive factors for visual outcome after allogenic penetrating keratoplasty are reason for keratoplasty and graft size. Postoperative visual acuity is significantly the highest in keratoconus and significantly the lowest in pseudophakic/aphakic bullous keratopathy. Expressed in lines, increase in visual acuity does not differ significantly among groups of patients with different reasons for keratoplasty.

Adolescent↗

Immunologic graft reactions after allogenic penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: To evaluate frequency and risk factors of immunologic graft reactions after allogenic penetrating keratoplasty. DESIGN: Interventional comparative nonrandomized clinical trial. METHODS: The setting took place in a university eye hospital. The retrospective study included 338 patients (338 eyes). The patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty performed by a single surgeon in the study period from 1989 to 1997. Follow-up period had to be longer than 12 months (mean +/- SD, 31.4 +/- 18.8 months). Frequency of immunologic graft reactions characterized by relatively few small monomorph whitish cells in the anterior chamber, almost no flare, and retrocorneal cellular precipitates. RESULTS: Immunologic graft reactions were detected in 46 patients (46/338 = 13.6%). Statistically significant risk factors for the development of graft reactions were loosening of sutures (P =.046), and preoperative and postoperative corneal vascularization (P =.04). Frequency of an immunologic graft reaction was statistically independent (P >.05) of the graft diameters used in the present study, age, and gender of the patients, HLA-typing, donor age, and preservation data of the donor material. Seventy-four percent (34/46) of all graft reactions were detected within the first 2.5 years after surgery. Thirteen percent (6/46) of all graft reactions were observed more than 4 years after keratoplasty. With intensive corticosteroid treatment, graft transparency could be regained in 44 (95.6%) of the 46 patients with an immunologic graft reaction. CONCLUSIONS: Most important risk factors for immunologic graft reactions occurring in approximately 14% of patients after allogenic penetrating keratoplasty are suture loosening and preoperative and postoperative corneal vascularization. Graft diameters as used in the present study, HLA-typing, age of the donor, and preservation data of the donor material may not play a major role. More than 10% of graft reaction episodes can occur more than 4 years postgrafting. With intensive corticosteroid treatment, graft transparency can be regained in the majority of patients after an immunologic graft reaction when detected early.

Adolescent↗

Anisometropia and degree of optic nerve damage in chronic open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To address the question of whether the refractive error plays a role in the amount of optic nerve damage in glaucoma, we intraindividually compared inter-eye differences in refractive error with inter-eye differences in parameters indicating the degree of glaucomatous optic nerve damage, and we interindividually correlated refractive error with neuroretinal rim area and visual field loss. DESIGN: Comparative clinical observational study. METHODS: This comparative clinical observational study was conducted in a university eye hospital. The study included 1,444 eyes of 876 patients with primary or secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma. Patients with a highly myopic refractive error (> or = -8 diopters) were excluded, owing to differences in the anatomy of the optic nerve head. Color stereo optic disk photographs were taken and morphometrically evaluated. The main outcome measures were refractive error, neuroretinal rim area, horizontal and vertical cup/disk diameter ratios, and visual field loss. RESULTS: In an interindividual statistical analysis, area of neuroretinal rim, horizontal and vertical cup/disk diameter ratios, and mean visual field loss were not significantly (P >.10) correlated with refractive error. In an intraindividual comparison, inter-eye differences in refractive error were not significantly (P >.05) correlated with inter-eye differences in neuroretinal rim area and mean visual field defect. The eye with the more myopic refractive error and the contralateral eye with the less myopic refractive error did not vary significantly in neuroretinal rim area and mean visual field defect. CONCLUSIONS: For nonhighly myopic (< -8 diopters) patients with primary or secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma, the refractive error may not play a major role for the amount of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. For nonhighly myopic (< -8 diopters) patients with primary or secondary chronic open-angle glaucoma, myopia may not be an important risk factor for glaucoma.

Adolescent↗

Small neuroretinal rim and large parapapillary atrophy as predictive factors for progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate which morphologic features of the optic disc are predictive factors for progressive neuroretinal rim loss in chronic open-angle glaucoma. DESIGN: Prospective, observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 394 eyes of 257 white patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma. Mean follow-up time was 31.8 months (median, 39.7 months). Progression of glaucoma was defined as loss of neuroretinal rim as detected by disc photographs. Presence of optic disc hemorrhages was not taken into account. METHODS: All patients underwent repeated qualitative and morphometric evaluation of color stereo optic disc photographs. Statistical analysis included Kaplan-Meier curves, and bivariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusted for patients' ages. Dependency of left and right eyes from the same subject was taken into account. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative and quantitative morphologic optic nerve head parameters. RESULTS: Progression of glaucomatous optic nerve changes was detected in 42 eyes (11%). At baseline of the study, neuroretinal rim area (total area, P = 0.03) was significantly smaller, and beta zone of parapapillary atrophy (total area, P = 0.04) was significantly larger in the progressive study group compared with the nonprogressive study group. Neither study group varied significantly in size and shape of the optic disc, optic cup depth, alpha zone of parapapillary atrophy, and diameter of the retinal arteries and veins (P > 0.05). Multiple Cox regression analysis revealed that the progression of glaucoma depended significantly on the area of the neuroretinal rim (temporal sector, P = 0.003) and beta zone of parapapillary atrophy (temporal inferior sector, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Important morphologic predictive factors for progression of the glaucomatous appearance of the optic nerve head in white persons are small size of neuroretinal rim and large area of beta zone of parapapillary atrophy. Progression of glaucomatous optic nerve head changes is independent of size and shape of the optic disc, size of alpha zone of parapapillary atrophy, retinal vessel diameter, and optic cup depth.

Adolescent↗

Inter-eye differences in chronic open-angle glaucoma patients with unilateral disc hemorrhages.

OBJECTIVE: Flame-shaped optic disc hemorrhages are a hallmark of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate which parameters differ between companion eyes with and without an optic disc hemorrhage in patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma. DESIGN: Comparative (companion eye) observational case series. PATIENTS: The study included 99 white patients with bilateral chronic open-angle glaucoma and unilateral flame-shaped optic disc hemorrhages. METHODS: All patients underwent qualitative and morphometric evaluation of color stereo optic disc photographs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Size and shape of the optic disc, neuroretinal rim and parapapillary atrophy, diameter of the retinal vessels, intraocular pressure measurements, and both mean value and loss variance value of the visual field examination. RESULTS: In an intraindividual inter-eye comparison, the eyes with disc hemorrhages and the contralateral eyes without disc bleeding did not vary significantly (P > 0.20) in size and shape of the optic disc and neuroretinal rim, optic cup depth, size of alpha and beta zone of parapapillary atrophy, retinal vessel diameter, intraocular pressure measurements, refractive error, and perimetric indices. CONCLUSIONS: In bilateral chronic open-angle glaucoma, the development of unilateral optic disc hemorrhages does not depend on inter-eye differences in size and shape of the optic disc, neuroretinal rim and parapapillary atrophy, diameter of the retinal vessels, intraocular pressure measurements, or visual field loss.

Adolescent↗

Discriminant analysis formulas of optic nerve head parameters measured by confocal scanning laser tomography.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether discriminant analysis formulas of optic disc variables measured by confocal laser scanning tomography can detect glaucomatous visual field defects, to compare the diagnostic precision of these formulas to detect glaucomatous visual field defects in different types of chronic open-angle glaucoma, and to assess whether gender or refractive error influence the results obtained by the formulas. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-one patients with perimetrically defined glaucomatous optic nerve damage and 194 healthy subjects were recruited. All patients underwent confocal laser scanning tomography of the optic disc. The data were analyzed with three linear discriminant analysis formulas (sectorial, Bathija, and Mikelberg) obtained in sets of data different from those used in the present study. RESULTS: The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of the three formulas and of the cup shape measure as a single parameter ranged from 0.649 to 0.81 in the entire group, and the results did not change when age-matched eyes were considered (0.618-0.812). In each of the glaucoma subgroups with primary open-angle, pseudoexfoliative, and normal-pressure glaucoma, and additionally in the hyperopic, myopic, female, and male subgroups, the sectorial formula had the highest diagnostic precision and the highest correlation coefficients with the visual field indices, followed by the Bathija and Mikelberg formulas, without major differences between the subgroups. All three formulas were more effective than the cup shape measure as a single parameter. CONCLUSION: In the various chronic open-angle glaucomas, the sectorial and Bathija formulas tended to have higher diagnostic precision than the Mikelberg formula and the cup shape measure. Gender and refractive error do not markedly influence the diagnostic precision of the formulas tested. The scores of the formulas are mild indicators of the amount of glaucomatous visual field loss. All three formulas are superior to the single cup shape measure in the detection of glaucomatous optic nerve damage.

Adult↗

Monitoring glaucoma progression with visual evoked potentials of the blue-sensitive pathway.

PURPOSE: To determine the value of visual evoked potentials with blue-on-yellow pattern stimulation in follow-up of glaucoma. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal concurrent study included a heterogeneous cohort of two groups, perimetric (n = 161) and preperimetric (n = 118), of patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma and 113 healthy control subjects. In the preperimetric glaucoma group, patients showed glaucomatous abnormalities of the optic disc, maximum intraocular pressure higher than 21 mm Hg, and unremarkable computerized visual field examination results. Patients underwent up to three VEP measurements with blue-on-yellow pattern stimulation, as well as qualitative and morphometric evaluation of color stereo optic disc photographs. Mean follow-up time between measurements was 24 months. VEP measurements were separately analyzed in preperimetric subjects, with and without progression of optic nerve damage. Progression of glaucoma was defined as increasing loss of neuroretinal rim. RESULTS: A separate analysis of VEP peak times in patients in the preperimetric group, with and without progression of glaucomatous optic nerve damage, showed no significant difference at baseline but a significant prolongation (P = 0.01) in patients with progressive disease, 2 years before morphologic changes were evident. VEPs in patients with nonprogressive disease were statistically unchanged during the observation period. The perimetric group and both preperimetric groups showed significantly prolonged VEP peak times in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to photographic evaluation to detect glaucomatous disc atrophy, the blue-on-yellow VEP may be an objective electrophysiological tool for monitoring patients with glaucoma, because peak times are significantly associated with progression of optic nerve damage.

Chronic Disease↗