Neuroretinal Rim Area Change in Glaucoma Patients With Visual Field Progression Endpoints and Intraocular Pressure Reduction. The Canadian Glaucoma Study: 4.

PURPOSE: To compare rim area rates in patients with and without the visual field (VF) progression endpoint in the Canadian Glaucoma Study and determine whether intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction following the endpoint altered rim area rate.

DESIGN

Prospective multicenter cohort study.

METHODS

setting: University hospitals.

PATIENT POPULATION: Two hundred and six patients with open-angle glaucoma were examined at 4-month intervals with standard automated perimetry and confocal scanning laser tomography.

INTERVENTION: After the endpoint, IOP was reduced by ≥20%.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Univariate analysis for change in rim area rate and multivariable analysis to adjust for independent covariates (eg, age, sex, and IOP).

RESULTS

Patients with an endpoint (n = 59) had a worse rim area rate prior to the endpoint compared to those without (n = 147; median [interquartile range]: -14 [-32, 11] × 10(-3) mm(2)/y and -5 [-14, 5] × 10(-3) mm(2)/y, respectively, P = .02). In univariate analysis, there was no difference in rim area rate before and after the endpoint (median difference [95% CI], 8 (-10, 24) × 10(-3) mm(2)/y), but the muItivariate analysis showed that IOP reduction >2 mm Hg after the endpoint was strongly linked to a reduction in rim area rate decline (8 × 10(-3) mm(2)/y for each additional 1 mm Hg reduction).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a VF endpoint had a median rim area rate that was nearly 3 times worse than those without an endpoint. Lower mean follow-up IOP was independently associated with a slower decline in rim area.