Correlation of the peripapillary atrophy area with optic disc cupping and disc hemorrhage

To investigate the association of the peripapillary atrophy area with disc cupping area and disc hemorrhage in subjects who underwent ocular examination as part of a routine physical examination.

We reviewed plain color fundus photographs taken of 12,140 eyes of 6,070 subjects as part of a routine health examination. The refractive error in these eyes was not known. Using a computerized image analysis system, we measured the area of peripapillary atrophy (zone beta), the optic disc, and optic disc cupping by means of planimetry in 8,842 eyes of 4,421 subjects with fundus images of good quality.

The ratio of cup area to disc area was significantly greater in eyes with peripapillary atrophy (0.36 + 0.09) than in eyes without peripapillary atrophy (0.34 + 0.07), and the ratio of peripapillary atrophy area to disc area was significantly greater in eyes with disc hemorrhage (0.26 + 0.34) than in those without disc hemorrhage (0.09 + 0.18). Moreover, in eyes with peripapillary atrophy, the ratio of cup area to disc area was significantly larger in eyes with disc hemorrhage (0.48 + 0.08) than in those without disc hemorrhage (0.36 + 0.09). These results remained statistically unchanged even after "glaucomatous" eyes were excluded from the study.

Peripapillary atrophy appears to be associated with a higher degree of cupping of the optic disc and disc hemorrhage, and the results suggest an association between peripapillary atrophy and glaucomatous optic neuropathy.