Relationship Between Peripapillary Atrophy and Optic Disc Parameters in Eyes with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Pur po se: To evaluate the relationship between peripapillary atrophy and optic disc parameters measured by Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT) and visual field findings in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: Thirty eyes of 30 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were included in this study. In addition to routine ophthalmic examination, optic disc parameters were evaluated with HRT and visual field was evaluated with Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer. Peripapillary atrophy area was measured by drawing contour of the border of the peripapillary atrophy (Beta zone: chorioretinal atrophy area in which sclera and big choroid blood vessels were seen) in HRT. The relationship between this atrophy area and both visual field findings and optic disc parameters was evaluated. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and statistical significance were calculated. Results: The mean age of the patients was 61.4±8.9 years. Measured beta zone area was 0.65±0.40 mm2. Mean deviation measured with Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer was -8.6±8.2 dB and pattern standard deviation was 6.4±4.6. Statistically significant correlation between peripapillary atrophy area and age (PC=0.495, p=0.005), mean deviation (PC=-0.554, p=0.001), cup area (PC=0.382, p=0.037), cup/disc area ratio (PC=0.562, p=0.001), linear cup/disc area ratio (PC=0.422, p=0.020) and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (PC=-0.360, p=0.047) was found. There was not a significant relationship between other optic disc parameters and peripapillary atrophy area (p>0.05). Conclusion: Significant correlation was seen between peripapillary beta zone atrophy area and some important optic disk parameters in primary open-angle glaucoma patients. More meaningful information would have been obtained if sectoral investigation of the optic disc was performed. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2011; 41: 291-4