Comparison of a simple ophthalmoscopic and planimetric measurement of glaucomatous neuroretinal rim areas.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to compare the measurement of the optic nerve of the glaucomatous neuroretinal rim areas by planimetry and simple ophthalmoscopy.

METHODS

Studied were 49 randomly selected glaucomatous eyes. Their planimetric measurements of the optic nerve head and the neuroretinal rim were compared with an ophthalmoscopic measurement derived from the projection of the Welch Allyn 5 degrees illuminated cone. Axial length of the eyes was determined.

RESULTS

Utilizing regression equations, a correlation coefficient of 0.77 with a p value of < 0.0001 was obtained.

CONCLUSION

The simple ophthalmoscopic estimation of the optic nerve head size and the neuroretinal rim size in glaucomatous patients compared well with the more laborious planimetric techniques and might be helpful in evaluating optic nerve heads for glaucomatous abnormalities.