PURPOSE

To investigate the characteristics and rate of central visual field loss after optic disc hemorrhage (DH).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

Three hundred forty-three eyes of 220 subjects who had ≥3 years of follow-up with a minimum of 5 visits with 10-2 and 24-2 visual field (VF) were recruited. Rates of 10-2 mean deviation (MD) loss in each hemifield and predefined zones were compared using linear mixed-effects models in DH and non-DH eyes. Clustered pointwise regression analysis was also used to define central VF progressors and compared with 24-2 VF loss using guided progression analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine eyes with DH and 304 eyes without DH had a mean follow-up of 5.2 years. Eyes with DH had rates of 10-2 MD loss that were 3 times faster than non-DH eyes (mean difference -0.36 dB/year [95% confidence interval 0.54-0.18]; P < .001) and were 3.7 times more likely to progress (P = .002). A larger proportion of glaucomatous eyes showed central VF progression rather than peripheral VF progression in the DH group (30.8% vs. 20.5%) compared with the non-DH group (10.9% vs. 9.2%). In early glaucoma, the rate of 10-2 MD loss was 5.5 times faster in DH eyes than in non-DH eyes (P < .001). Superonasal and superotemporal central VF regions progressed more rapidly than other regions, especially in DH eyes.

CONCLUSION

Central VF loss is accelerated in glaucoma eyes with DH and it corresponds topographically to the DH location. In patients with glaucoma with DH, one should consider supplementing 10-2 VFs with 24-2 VFS to monitor the disease.