Retinal nerve fiber layer defects and automated perimetry evaluation in ocular hypertensives

Preliminary results of a larger investigation on correlation between Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defects (RNFL) and Automated Perimetry (AP) are presented. A group of ocular hypertensive patients was recruited and a cross-section, randomized study was carried out. The group was composed of 54 eyes from 28 patients; 15 men and 13 women, mean age 42.76 year, mean visual acuity 0.95 (Snellen cart) and mean visual defect expressed in diopters was +0.514 (from -2.5 to +5). A total of 17 (31.48%) refractive fields were pathologic according to our criteria, one from a normal RNFL and the others from nerve fiber defects. We observed 6 no reliable RNFL photographs, 18 normal, 11 slits, 6 wedge, 11 diffuse and 2 mixed defects. Comparing RNFL and AP, 53.33% of eyes with fiber defects had abnormal perimetries. The more evolutioned the defect, the larger percentage of abnormal visual fields were observed: 36.36% in slit defects, 66.66% in wedge, 54.55% in diffuse and 100% in mixed ones. Comparing location of defects with location of cluster of decreased sensibility points in visual field, a higher correlation in inferior than superior defects was found.