[Visual field defects in high myopic glaucoma compared with moderate myopic glaucoma].

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the visual field defects characteristic of high myopic glaucoma eyes.

METHODS

Eighty-one high myopic glaucoma eyes (< or = -8 diopter(D)) and eighty moderate myopic glaucoma eyes(-3 D approximately -6 D) from patients under the age of 60 were enrolled in this study. Visual acuity, Mean Deviation (MD) of Humphrey visual field analyzer (HFA) central 30-2 program, and the pattern of central visual field defect especially at the early stage of glaucoma (MD > or = -10 dB) were compared between high and moderate myopic groups.

RESULTS

HFA examination revealed significant differences in MD values between the high and moderate myopic groups (-11.8 +/- 8.9 dB and -8.4 +/- 6.9 dB, respectively, p = 0.02). Average logMAR visual acuity of the high myopic group was significantly worse than that of the moderate myopic group. The analyses of the pattern of visual field defects especially at an early glaucoma stage demonstrated that there was no specifically damaged area, such as cecocentral scotoma, in high myopic glaucoma subjects. The nasal upper area of the fixation point was the area most affected in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

High myopic glaucoma eyes demonstrated significantly lower MD and visual acuity compared to those of moderate myopic glaucoma eyes. However, at an early stage of glaucoma, no visual field defect characteristic of high myopia was observed.