Changes in Axial Length and Progression of Visual Field Damage in Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between axial length (AL) elongation and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS

AL was measured twice over a 5.1 ± 0.76 (mean ± standard deviation: SD) year period in 125 eyes of 72 patients with POAG. The eyes were divided into not long (AL < 26 mm, 80 eyes) and long (>26 mm, 45 eyes) groups. During this period, patients' visual fields (VFs) were measured with the Humphrey Field Analyzer 12.4 ± 7.5 times and intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured with Goldmann applanation tonometry 27.0 ± 7.5 times. The relationship between the mean total deviation (mTD) progression rates in the whole field and superior and inferior hemifield, as well as in 10 VF sectors, and the variables of age, mean IOP, SD of IOP, AL, difference in AL (△AL), and mTD value at baseline was examined.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between AL at baseline and AL at repeat measurement (P < 0.0001). △AL was 0.035 ± 0.10 mm. An increase in △AL was significantly related to AL at baseline (P = 0.027), but not to age, mean IOP, and SD of IOP. △AL was related to the progression of mTD in the inferior hemifield (slower mTD progression was associated with increased △AL), but not in the whole field or superior hemifield. Increased △AL was related to slower progression rates in 2 of 10 sectors, both in the inferior hemifield.

CONCLUSIONS

The main finding was that an increase in AL was significantly related to slower VF progression in the inferior hemifield.