Prediction of functional loss in glaucoma from progressive optic disc damage.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of progressive optic disc damage detected by assessment of longitudinal stereophotographs to predict future development of functional loss in those with suspected glaucoma. METHODS: The study included 639 eyes of 407 patients with suspected glaucoma followed up for an average of 8.0 years with annual standard automated perimetry visual field and optic disc stereophotographs. All patients had normal and reliable standard automated perimetry results at baseline. Conversion to glaucoma was defined as development of 3 consecutive abnormal visual fields during follow-up. Presence of progressive optic disc damage was evaluated by grading longitudinally acquired simultaneous stereophotographs. Other predictive factors included age, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, pattern standard deviation, and baseline stereophotograph grading. Hazard ratios for predicting visual field loss were obtained by extended Cox models, with optic disc progression as a time-dependent covariate. Predictive accuracy was evaluated using a modified R(2) index. RESULTS: Progressive optic disc damage had a hazard ratio of 25.8 (95% confidence interval, 16.0-41.7) and was the most important risk factor for development of visual field loss with an R(2) of 79%. The R(2)s for other predictive factors ranged from 6% to 26%. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of progressive optic disc damage on stereophotographs was a highly predictive factor for future development of functional loss in glaucoma. These findings suggest the importance of careful monitoring of the optic disc appearance and a potential role for longitudinal assessment of the optic disc as an end point in clinical trials and as a reference for evaluation of diagnostic tests in glaucoma.

Author information

Author/s: Medeiros, Felipe A (FA); Alencar, Luciana M (LM); Zangwill, Linda M (LM); Bowd, Christopher (C); Sample, Pamela A (PA); Weinreb, Robert N (RN);

Affiliation: Hamilton Glaucoma Center and Department of Ophthalmology, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, USA. fmedeiros(-atsign-)eyecenter.ucsd.edu

Grants: EY08208 (Agency:NEI NIH HHS) ; EY11008 (Agency:NEI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Archives of ophthalmology (Arch Ophthalmol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 127 (issue 10) : pp 1250-6

Dates: Created 2009/10/13; Completed 2009/11/02;

PMID: 19822839, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/2/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Oct;127(10):1382-3. (PMID: 19822858)

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