Digitale Planimetrie zur Langzeitverlaufskontrolle bei stabilen und progredienten Glaukomen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether digital planimetry is appropriate for quantification of neuroretinal rim loss in patients with glaucoma, with and without progression. The optic discs of 44 patients, whose illness had been well documented with photographs over a period of at least eight years were divided in a progression group and an unchanged group with regard to glaucoma. After this evaluation we measured each disc by digital planimetry and correlated the results. The researcher conducting the measurements was unaware of the patients' date of examination and the diagnosis. While the neuroretinal rim decreased by only 0.06 A+/- 0.15 mm(2) on average in the group of patients without glaucoma, the average decrease was 0.30 A+/- 0.27 mm(2) in the group with progression. This corresponds to a yearly decrease on average of merely 0.0043 A+/- 0.011 mm(2) (0.25%/a) in the group without progression and one of 0.0228 A+/- 0.025 mm(2) (1.9%/a) in the group with progression. Mean neuroretinal rim loss was 0.25% per year in the group without progression of glaucoma, and 1.9% per year in the group with progression. This annual difference is significant. (p = 0.003). The average observation time in the morphologically better group was on average significantly shorter (12.3 years compared to 14.5 years). Digital planimetry was able to determine if a morphological progression was found in a clinical examination or if a glaucoma showed no signs of worsening. So we can use this method of digital planimetry of optic discs to examine and re-examine older and more recent photographs to always get the best results of a possible progression of glaucoma.