Relationship between optic disc cupping change and intraocular pressure control in adult glaucoma patients.

BACKGROUND

Until recently, there has been a paucity of quantitative evidence for intraocular pressure (IOP)-dependent optic disc cupping change in adult glaucoma patients. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between optic disc cupping change and IOP control.

METHODS

The study involved 78 eyes of 78 randomly selected adult patients with early to moderate chronic open-angle glaucoma (CO-AG), treated on various therapeutic regimens, who had had two consecutive successful optic disc analyses with the Rodenstock Optic Nerve Head Analyzer 15.8 +/- 14.8 weeks apart.

RESULTS

The mean initial IOP of 27 eyes (34%) with cupping reversal did not differ from that of 17 eyes (22%) demonstrating progressive deterioration (29.2 +/- 8.8 vs 26.2 +/- 6.1 mmHg, P > 0.5), but the reversal group did have a significantly greater mean IOP decrease than the progression group (-10.8 +/- 7.9 vs-1.0 +/- 7.7 mmHg, P < 0.001) and significantly lower mean final IOP (18.3 +/- 6.1 vs 25.2 +/- 7.9 mmHg, P < 0.003).

CONCLUSION

A decrease of optic disc cupping is more likely with a greater IOP reduction and a lower final IOP, and an increase of cupping is more likely with less or no IOP reduction and a higher final IOP.