Reversal of optic disc cupping after glaucoma surgery analyzed with a scanning laser tomograph

• Published in: Ophthalmology (Rochester, Minn.) Vol. 106; no. 5; pp. 1013 - 1018
• Main Authors: Lesk, Mark R, Spaeth, George L, Azuara-Blanco, Augusto, Araujo, Silvana V, Katz, L.Jay, Terebuh, Annette K, Wilson, Richard P, Moster, Marlene R, Schmidt, Courtland M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.05.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Filtering Surgery; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure - physiopathology; Glaucoma, Angle-Closure - surgery; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - physiopathology; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - surgery; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Lasers; Male; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Confocal - methods; Middle Aged; Optic Disk - pathology; Optic Disk - physiopathology; Optic Nerve - pathology; Optic Nerve - physiopathology; Prospective Studies; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the eye and orbit; Tomography - methods; Visual Field Tests; Visual Fields; Human; Postoperative; Surgical drainage; Exploration; Aqueous humor; Eye disease; Treatment; Glaucoma (eye); Surgery; Morphology; Laser; Tomography; Optic papilla
• ISSN: 0161-6420; 1549-4713
• DOI: 10.1016/S0161-6420(99)00526-6

To detect and quantitate changes in optic nerve morphology after glaucoma surgery using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT, Heidelberg Instruments, Heidelberg, Germany). Nonconsecutive observational case series. The authors prospectively enrolled 21 adult patients undergoing incisional glaucoma surgery for progressive glaucoma damage. Quantitative analysis of the optic nerve head by scanning laser tomography and automated perimetry were performed before and after glaucoma surgery. Changes in optic nerve parameters were subjected to linear regression analysis with respect to percent of postoperative reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), as well as with respect to age, refraction, preoperative cup:disc ratio, and change in visual field parameters. Seventeen patients had pre- and postoperative images suitable for analysis. Mean IOP at the time of image acquisition before surgery was 30.5 ± 12 mmHg, and after surgery 11.8 ± 5.2 mmHg (mean follow-up, 26 ± 7 weeks). Eleven of 13 (85%) patients having IOP reduction of greater than 40% showed improvement in optic disc parameters. All four patients with less than 25% reduction in IOP showed worsening of most parameters. Changes in optic disc parameters were highly correlated with percent IOP reduction and with age. The parameters in which change most strongly correlated with percent change of IOP were cup area, rim area, cup:disc ratio, and mean cup depth (each, P < 0.005). The age of the patient correlated highly with change in maximum cup depth ( P < 0.005). Refraction and clinically determined cup:disc ratio correlated poorly with changes in measured optic disc parameters. Clinical improvement in visual fields was correlated with the degree of improvement of cup:disc ratio ( P = 0.025). Most patients showing a 40% lowering of IOP after glaucoma surgery show improved optic nerve morphology as measured by the HRT. The amount of improvement correlated highly with the percent reduction of IOP.