Quantitative analysis of the optic nerve head parameters in patients with age-related macular degeneration

To evaluate the topographic parameters of the optic disc of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by performing confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy.

This prospective study included 41 eyes of 41 patients with neovascular AMD, 56 eyes of 56 patients with nonneovascular AMD, and 48 eyes of 48 healthy control subjects. Images of the optic nerve head of all of the participants were obtained using Heidelberg retinal tomography III software 3.1. The following stereometric parameters were measured for each participant: disc area, cup area, rim area, cup volume, rim volume, cup-to-disc ratio, mean cup depth, maximum cup depth, cup shape, and mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

The cup shape values of the patients with neovascular and nonneovascular AMD were significantly different from those of the control subjects (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). The cup-to-disc ratio was significantly higher in the patients with nonneovascular AMD when compared with the control subjects (P = 0.013), but no difference was found between the patients with neovascular AMD and the control subjects (P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed among the 3 groups with respect to the other optic disc parameters (P > 0.05).

These data showed that the deterioration of the cup shape was an important finding in patients with AMD. Because AMD manifests with progressive ocular damage, including the optic nerve head, examination of the cup shape may be important during the follow-up of these patients.