Predictive Factors for the Rate of Visual Field Progression in the Advanced Imaging for Glaucoma Study

To investigate predictive factors associated with the rate of visual field (VF) loss in open-angle glaucoma.

Prospective multicenter cohort study.

Perimetric glaucoma patients of the Advanced Imaging for Glaucoma study were selected for analysis if they had 9 completed visits. Confirmed rapid significant progression (CRSP) of VF was defined as a significant (P < 0.05) negative VF index (VFI) slope of -1%/year or a mean deviation slope of -0.5 dB/year, confirmed at 2 consecutive follow-up visits. Slow progression was defined as VFI slope greater than -0.5%/year or a mean deviation slope of -0.25 dB/year. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) measured optic disc, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (NFL), and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) thicknesses. Logistic regression was used to identify baseline predictors for CRSP and slow progression. Linear regression was used to identify baseline predictors for the VFI and mean deviation slope.

Eyes (n = 150) of 103 participants were included. Slow progression was observed in 80 eyes (53.3%) and CRSP in 23 eyes (15.3%). Larger NFL and GCC baseline focal loss volume (FLV), thinner central corneal thickness, and lower VFI were significant (P < 0.05) baseline predictors of more rapid progression on univariate analysis. The predictor with the highest odds ratio (OR) was NFL-FLV, which was also the most significant non-VF predictor in the multivariate analysis. Eyes with NFL-FLV >8.5% had an OR of 2.67 for CRSP and 0.42 for slow progression. Disc hemorrhage during the follow-up was also important, with an OR of 2.61 for CRSP and 0.23 for slow progression for each occurrence.

Focal loss measured by FD-OCT or VF along with CCT are strong baseline predictors for the rate of glaucoma progression.