Abstract

Volume.118 Number.10

Original article : Clinical science

Initial Scotomas in Normal Tension Glaucoma
Shiro Mizoue1, Aiko Iwase2, Shun Matsumoto3, Keiji Yoshikawa4
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine
2 Tajimi Iwase Eye Clinic
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Teishin Hospital
4 Yoshikawa Eye Clinic

Purpose: To investigate risk factors for initial visual field pattern in normal tension glaucoma (NTG).
Patients and methods: We studied 107 subjects, who underwent 24-2 or 30-2 Swedish interactive threshold algorithm standard visual fields as part of a multicenter study of newly diagnosed NTG patients. Only the eyes with initial parafoveal scotoma (IPFS) or initial nasal step (INS) were included. IPFS was defined as a glaucomatous visual field (VF) defect in 1 hemifield (≥3 adjacent points with p<5% within the central 10 degrees of fixation, ≥1 point with p<1% lying at the innermost paracentral points, and no VF abnormality outside the central 10°). INS was defined in 1 hemifield (≥3 adjacent points with p<5% in the nasal periphery outside 10° of fixation, the nasal-most point with p<1%, and no VF abnormality within the central 10°). Clinical characteristics were compared between the 2 groups.
Results: Mean untreated intraocular pressure (IOP)(14.0±1.3 vs. 16.0±1.4 mmHg; p=0.0102) was significantly lower in patients with an IPFS than in patients with an INS. There were no significant differences in age (p=0.6487) or spherical equivalent (p=0.7561).
Conclusion: Initial visual field pattern of NTG is influenced by untreated IOP level.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 118: 826-830, 2014.

Key words
Normal tension glaucoma, Visual field, Intraocular pressure
Reprint requests to
Shiro Mizoue, M.D. Department of Ophthalmology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine. Shitsukawa, Toon-shi, Ehime-ken 791-0295, Japan