Optic disc hemorrhage in Asian glaucoma patients.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Research
• Optic Nerve Health

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
• Optic disc hemorrhage is a recognized sign of glaucoma progression.
• Accurate prevalence data in diverse ethnic groups is crucial for understanding disease patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of optic disc hemorrhage in Asian glaucoma patients.
• To utilize a sensitive detection method for optic disc hemorrhage.
• To compare findings with existing literature on different glaucoma types and ethnicities.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 167 Asian patients undergoing glaucoma filtering surgery were evaluated.
• Stereo flicker chronoscopy of stereophotograph pairs was used to detect optic disc hemorrhage.
• Patients were diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma, primary angle-closure glaucoma, or other types.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of optic disc hemorrhage was 2.99% (5 out of 167 patients).
• Hemorrhages were observed in 4 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 1 with primary angle-closure glaucoma.
• No significant differences in visual field indices, AGIS scores, or intraocular pressures were found between eyes with and without hemorrhage.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of optic disc hemorrhage in this Asian cohort is comparable to primary open-angle glaucoma in white patients.
• Prevalence is lower than reported in normal-tension glaucoma studies.
• Optic disc hemorrhage was more common in primary open-angle glaucoma than primary angle-closure glaucoma.