[Correlation between blue chromatic macular sensitivity and optic disc change in early glaucoma patients]

To investigate the relationship between morphological changes of the optic nerve head (ONH) and macular sensitivity(MS) determined with blue-on-yellow(B on Y) and white on white (W on W) perimetry in normal subjects and patients with glaucoma.

One randomly chosen eye was evaluated in each of 28 normal subjects, 23 patients with ocular hypertension(OH), and 23 patients with early primary open-angle glaucoma(POAG). Mean values for MS by B on Y and W on W perimetry were obtained with the macular program using a modified Humphrey Field Analyzer(HFA). The Heidelberg Retina Tomograph(HRT) with software version 2.01 was used to evaluate the topographic parameters of temporal sector in ONH.

There was no significant difference in temporal topographic parameters of ONH among the three clinical groups. Mean values for MS of B on Y and W on W perimetry in early POAG were significantly lower than in normal subjects and OH. Mean values for MS of W on W perimetry showed no significant correlation with ONH parameters of the temporal sector. In early POAG, mean values for MS of B on Y perimetry significantly correlated with cup area, cup/disc area ratio, cup volume, and rim volume in the temporal sector of ONH.

The measurement of mean MS of B on Y might be able to detect the glaucomatous optic nerve damage due to increased intraocular pressure prior to the morphological changes of ONH in early stages of glaucoma.