Correlation of blue chromatic macular sensitivity with optic disc change in early glaucoma patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between morphological changes of the optic nerve head (ONH) and macular sensitivity determined with blue on yellow (B on Y) and white on white (W on W) perimetry in normal subjects and patients with glaucoma.

METHODS

One randomly chosen eye was evaluated in each of 28 healthy subjects, 23 patients with ocular hypertension (OH), and 23 patients with early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The mean macular sensitivity determined with B on Y and W on W perimetry was obtained by a macular program using a modified Humphrey field analyzer. The Heidelberg retina tomograph with software version 2.01 was used to evaluate the temporal topographic measurements of ONH.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in temporal ONH parameters among the three clinical groups. The mean macular sensitivity of B on Y and W on W perimetry in early POAG patients was significantly lower than that in healthy subjects and in patients with OH. The mean macular sensitivity of W on W perimetry showed no significant correlation with temporal ONH parameters in any clinical groups. In patients with early POAG, the mean macular sensitivity of B on Y perimetry was significantly related to cup area and volume, cup/disc area ratio, and rim volume in the temporal sector of the ONH.

CONCLUSION

The measurement of the mean macular sensitivity of B on Y perimetry might make it possible to detect functional damage prior to morphological changes in the ONH due to elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma.