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Different types of optic disc shape in patients with advanced open-angle glaucoma
Toru Nakazawa1, Nobuo Fuse, Kazuko Omodaka
1Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan. ntoru@oph.med.tohoku.ac.jp
Advanced open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients show distinct optic disc characteristics. Generalized cup enlargement (GE) is common in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), while myopic glaucomatous (MY) discs are prevalent in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Glaucoma Research
- Optic Nerve Imaging
Background:
- Open-angle glaucoma (OAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
- Understanding the characteristics of advanced OAG is crucial for effective management.
- Optic disc morphology can provide insights into glaucoma subtypes and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize patients with advanced open-angle glaucoma (OAG).
- To classify optic disc phenotypes in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective hospital-based study of 750 glaucoma patients.
- Advanced glaucoma defined by visual acuity ≤0.3 or mean deviation ≤-24 dB.
- Optic disc types classified into focal ischemic (FI), myopic glaucomatous (MY), senile sclerotic (SS), and generalized cup enlargement (GE).
Main Results:
- 141 patients (18.8%) had advanced glaucoma; 47% of these had advanced OAG (28% POAG, 19% NTG).
- In POAG patients, generalized cup enlargement (GE) was the predominant disc type (P = 0.0012).
- In NTG patients, myopic glaucomatous (MY) discs were most prevalent (P < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Distinct optic disc phenotypes are associated with POAG and NTG in advanced OAG.
- GE is characteristic of POAG, while MY is characteristic of NTG in severe glaucomatous damage.
- These findings aid in differentiating OAG subtypes based on optic disc morphology.
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