Relative afferent pupillary defects in primary open-angle glaucoma--five years' experience

Afferent pupillary defects may accompany asymmetric primary open-angle glaucoma, though the exact incidence has not been reported. Charts were reviewed on 89 patients attending the Glaucoma/Uveitis Clinic at the North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill, North Carolina over a five-year period. All patients had primary open-angle glaucoma diagnosed by: (1) increased ocular tensions (22 mmHg) in the presence of open-anterior-chamber angles and (2) optic-nerve cupping and atrophy compatible with (3) pressure-dependent, visual-field loss. No subjects with secondary glaucomas, primary-angle-closure glaucoma, or ocular hypertension are included.The presence of the relative afferent pupillary defect was noted in 21 of 89 patients (23 percent). Sixteen of 70 black patients had relative afferent pupillary defect in the more severely affected eye, while five of 19 white patients demonstrated afferent pupils. Other demographic characteristics of this population are described. Two typical primary-open-angle glaucoma patients are discussed to demonstrate comparable changes within the optic nerves and Goldmann visual fields. The presence of the relative afferent pupillary defect best correlates with asymmetric, visual-field loss in the more severely affected eye.