[Correlation between the retinal nerve fiber layer defects (RNFLD) and visual field defects in primary open-angle glaucoma].

The RNFLD and the visual field in 73 cases (124 eyes) of primary open-angle glaucoma were studied. It was found that the early RNFLDs were usually local, as combed-hair, slit-like, or wedge shaped defects, while in the medium or late stage, diffuse RNFL atrophy or mixed RNF-LD was the rule. In the group of localized RNFLDs, 8.8% of the patients showed no visual field anomalies, indicating that RNFL damages preceded visual field damages; in the rest of the patients, visual field defects corresponded with the RNFLD in 86.7% of the cases. In patients of the medium or late stage with mixed or diffuse RNFLD, nasal steps and isopter constriction were usually found that corresponded perfectly with the RNFLD.