Dark Adaptation in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma, Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma and Childhood Glaucoma.

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the state of dark adaptation and macular blood flow in different forms of glaucoma. Methods Eighteen eyes of 18 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, 14 eyes of 14 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and 10eyes of 10 patients with childhood glaucoma (CG) were examined by means of dark adaptometry, scanning-laser retinal flowmetry, and retinal tomography. Results All glaucomatous eyes had comparable optic disc excavation (one-way ANOVA, p = 0.138). Eyes with CG had significantly lower best-corrected visual acuity than the other groups (Tukey, all p < 0.0001). Macular perfusion was comparable in all three groups (one - way ANOVA, p = 0.08). The delay in rod-cone break time in the CG group was significantly higher than in the other groups (Tukey, all p < 0.0001). The scotopic sensitivity threshold in the CG group was significantly greater than in the other groups (Tukey, all p < 0.01). Conclusion This underlying dysfunction of dark adaptation may contribute, at least to some extent, to the decreased visual perception observed in patients with CG.