Optic nerve head morphologic characteristics in high-tension and normal-tension glaucoma.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
NORMAL-TENSION glaucoma (NTG) has long been recognized as a clinical entity characterized by typical glaucomatous optic nerve head (ONH) damage and visual field defects.1 Greve and Geijssen2 found that NTG was characterized by larger optic discs, a thinner inferotemporal rim area, more pallor than cupping, and a pale, sloping, moth-eaten disc appearance. Others have also noted optic disc and visual field differences between patients with high-tension glaucoma (HTG) and NTG.1-9 Some authors believe that the appearance of the optic disc and visual field in patients with NTG is similar to that found in HTG.10-14 It is important to determine if there are differences in optic disc topography between these 2 entities since this may provide clues as to the possible different factors responsible for the damage to these patients' eyes. We evaluated the optic disc topography using a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) in patients with NTG and HTG to address this question.