Association between the Frequency of Optic Disk Hemorrhage and Progression of NTG Related with the Initial Location of RNFL Defect.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the association of the frequency of optic disk hemorrhage (DH) and progression of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) between each group based on the location of the initial retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect.

METHODS: In this retrospective, observational cohort study, 142 NTG patients who underwent more than 5 reliable visual field tests with initial superior hemifield (group 2, n = 51), inferior hemifield (group 1, n = 44), or both hemifield (group 3, n = 47) defects were included. The number of DHs was inspected in serial optic disk photographs by 2 different ophthalmologists. Progression rates, which are the slope of mean thresholds from the 52 points, were calculated using a linear mixed effect model.

RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 8.19 ± 3.30 years. DHs related with the initial RNFL defect occurred significantly more frequently in group 2 (35 in inferior hemifield) than in group 1 (6 in superior hemifield) (p = 0.009) or group 3 (6 in inferior hemifield) (p = 0.006). The progression rate in group 2 was significantly faster than in group 1 (p = 0.019) or the superior hemifield of group 3 (p = 0.001). The progression rate of subjects showing recurrent DH was significantly faster than those showing single DH from all groups (-0.5460 vs. -0.2867 dB/year, p = 0.0053).

CONCLUSIONS: More careful examination and caution are required when NTG patients show recurrent DH in the inferior hemifield related to the initial RNFL defect.