Optic disc diameter increases during acute elevations of intraocular pressure.

PURPOSE

To evaluate optic nerve diameter changes in glaucomatous and nonglaucomatous eyes during transient elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP).

METHODS

This prospective experimental study included 100 subjects: 38 with glaucoma and 62 without glaucoma. Elevation of IOP to an average of 64 mm Hg for less than 30 seconds was induced in one eye of all subjects by means of a modified LASIK suction ring. The optic nerve heads were imaged before and during the elevation.

RESULTS

During IOP elevation, optic disc area and linear disc measurements increased by a small but significant amount (3.89%, P < 0.0001 and 0.96%, P = 0.01, respectively). Distances between retinal landmarks did not change significantly (P = 0.25). A smaller optic disc at baseline (P = 0.004) and increased central corneal thickness (CCT; P = 0.011) were associated with a greater increase in disc area relative to other fundus dimensions during IOP elevation. Disc area increased less in patients with glaucoma (P = 0.015). In a multivariate model including age, glaucoma status, CCT, and baseline disc area, there was a small but significant negative correlation between disc area enlargement and baseline optic disc diameter (P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Transient elevation of IOP in adult eyes resulted in increases in disc area and linear disc dimensions, but not in retinal dimensions. The degree of enlargement appears to be less in patients with glaucoma than without and greater with increased corneal thickness. A multivariate model showed that the amount of disc area increase was inversely proportional to baseline disc area but was not related to glaucoma status or CCT. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00328835).