The Differences of Visual Field Defects in Three Types of Primary Glaucoma.

Park, Dong Ho; Hong, Sungpyo; Kwon, Jung Yoon

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2004;45(4):599-606.
Published online April 1, 2004.

The Differences of Visual Field Defects in Three Types of Primary Glaucoma.

Dong Ho Park, Sungpyo Hong, Jung Yoon Kwon

Department of Ophthalmology, Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, Korea. shong62@hanmail.net

원발 녹내장의 유형에 따른 시야결손의 특징

박동호 ( Park Dong Ho ) , 홍승표 ( Hong Seung Pyo ) , 권정윤 ( Kwon Jeong Yun )

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the characteristics of visual field defect in primary open-angle glaucoma (HTG), normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (ACG). METHODS: We investigated the visual field defect of HTG (n=75), NTG (n=58), ACG (n=150) patients from March 2000 to November 2002. We compared the severity and asymmetry of the visual field defect in both eyes, the asymmetry of a more severely affected hemifield between both eyes, and the frequency of an early visual field defect with equivalently affected superior and inferior hemifield. RESULTS: The visual field defect was the severest in HTG, and the mildest in ACG. Asymmetry in severity of visual field defect between both eyes was the severest in HTG, and the mildest in NTG. The asymmetry of the affected hemifield between both eyes in terms of superior and inferior hemifields was most frequent in NTG. The frequency of the early visual field defect with equivalently affected superior and inferior hemifields occured mostly in NTG. ACG without an attack history had a more severe visual field defect than that with an attack history. CONCLUSIONS: The topographical pattern of the visual field defect was different in HTG, NTG, and ACG. There may be different pathophysiological mechanisms in the three types of primary glaucoma.

Key Words: Angle-closure glaucoma;Normal-tension glaucoma;Pattern of visual field defect;Primary open-angle glaucoma;Visual field