Anatomical Features can Affect OCT Measures Used for Clinical Decisions and Clinical Trial Endpoints

Purpose

To understand the association between anatomical parameters of healthy eyes and optical coherence tomography (OCT) circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness measurements.

Methods

OCT cpRNFL thickness was obtained from 396 healthy eyes in a commercial reference database (RDB). The temporal quadrant (TQ), superior quadrant (SQ), inferior quadrant (IQ), and global (G) cpRNFL thicknesses were analyzed. The commercial OCT devices code these values based on percentiles (red, <1%; yellow, ≥1% and <5%), after taking age and disc area into consideration. Four anatomical parameters were assessed: fovea-to-disc distance, an estimate of axial length, and the locations of the superior and the inferior peaks of the cpRNFL thickness curve. Pearson correlation values were obtained for the parameters and the thickness measures of each of the four cpRNFL regions, and t-tests were performed between the cpRNFL thicknesses coded as abnormal (red or yellow, <5%) versus normal (≥5%).

Results

For each of the four anatomical parameters, the correlation with the thickness of one or more of the TQ, SQ, IQ, and G regions exceeded the correlation with age or disc area. All four parameters were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with the abnormal cpRNFL values. The significant parameters were not the same for the different regions; for example, a parameter could be negatively correlated for the TQ but positively correlated with the SQ or IQ.

Conclusions

In addition to age and disc area, which are used for inferences in normative databases, four anatomical parameters are associated with cpRNFL thickness.

Translational Relevance

Taking these additional anatomical parameters into consideration should aid diagnostic accuracy.

Frequency of Optical Coherence Tomography Testing to Detect Progression in Glaucoma

PRCIS

With high specificity and less variability than perimetry, more frequent testing resulted in shorter time to detect progression, though a 6-month testing interval provides a reasonable trade-off for following glaucoma patients using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

PURPOSE

To investigate the time to detect progression in glaucomatous eyes using different OCT test intervals.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants with manifest glaucoma from the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES), a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study, were included. A total of 2699 OCT tests from 171 glaucomatous and 149 normal eyes of 182 participants, with at least 5 tests and 2 years of follow-up, were analyzed. Computer simulations (n=10,000 eyes) were performed to estimate time to detect progression of global circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (cpRNFL) measured with OCT tests. Simulations were based on different testing paradigms (every 4, 6, 12, and 24 mo) and different rates of change (µm/year). Time to detect significant progression ( P <0.05) at 80% and 90% power were calculated for each paradigm and rate of cpRNFL change.

RESULTS

As expected, more frequent testing resulted in shorter time to detect progression. Although there was clear disadvantage for testing at intervals of 24 versus 12 months (~22.4% time [25 mo] increase in time to progression detection) and when testing 12 versus 6 months (~22.1% time [20 mo] increase), the improved time to detect progression was less pronounced when comparing 6 versus 4 months (~11.5% time [10 mo] reduction).

CONCLUSION

With high specificity and less variability than perimetry, a 6-month testing interval provides a reasonable trade-off for following glaucoma patients using OCT.

Patient Concerns Regarding Suspended Ophthalmic Care Due to COVID-19

PURPOSE

The temporary cessation and profound changes in ophthalmic care delivery that occurred as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have yet to be fully understood. Our objective is to assess patients' self-reported impact of health care lockdown measures on their fears and anxieties during the crisis period of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.

METHODS

We conducted a digital, self-reported, patient care survey distributed by an e-mail at Columbia University's Department of Ophthalmology outpatient faculty practice. Inclusion criteria were age greater than or equal to 18 years, a diagnosis of either retinal disease or glaucoma, and a canceled or rescheduled ophthalmology established patient appointment during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. Patients without an e-mail address listed in their electronic medical records were excluded. The survey occurred between March 2, 2020, to May 30, 2020. Primary measures were survey responses to assess key areas of patient anxiety or concern during the pandemic including the safety of care delivery in a COVID pandemic, difficulties contacting or being seen by their ophthalmologist, concern of vision loss or disease progression, and concern over missed or access to treatments. Secondary measures were correlating survey response to factors such as visual acuity, intraocular pressure, diagnosis, disease severity, follow-up urgency, recent treatments, and diagnostic testing data.

RESULTS

Of the 2594 surveys sent out, 510 (19.66%) were completed. Over 95% of patients were at least as concerned as in normal circumstances about their ocular health during the peak of the pandemic. Overall, 76% of respondents were more concerned than normal that they could not be seen by their ophthalmologist soon enough. Increased concern over ocular health, disease progression, and access to care all showed positive correlations (P<0.05) with worse disease severity as measured with testing such as visual fields and optical coherence tomography. In addition, 55% of patients were afraid of contracting COVID-19 during an office visit.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

We found a majority of our patients were concerned about limitations in access to ophthalmic care and were fearful of disease progression. In addition, we found a number of demographic and clinical factors that correlated with increased anxiety in our patients.

Structure-Function Agreement Is Better Than Commonly Thought in Eyes With Early Glaucoma

Purpose

To assess the agreement between structural (optical coherence tomography [OCT]) and functional (visual field [VF]) glaucomatous damage with an automated method and deviation/probability maps, and to compare this method to a metric method.

Methods

Wide-field spectral-domain OCT scans, including the disc and macula, and 24-2 and 10-2 VFs were obtained from 45 healthy control (H) eyes/individuals, and 53 eyes/patients with 24-2 mean deviation (MD) better than -6 dB diagnosed as "definite glaucoma" (DG) by experts. Abnormal structure-abnormal function (aS-aF) agreement was assessed with an automated topographic (T) method based upon VF pattern deviation and OCT probability maps. Results were compared to a metric (M) method optimized for accuracy, (abnormal 24-2 glaucoma hemifield test [GHT] or pattern standard deviation [PSD], or 10-2 PSD AND abnormal OCT [quadrant]).

Results

For the T-method, 47 (88.7%) of the 53 DG eyes showed aS-aF agreement, compared to 2 (4.5%) of the 45 H eyes. The aS-aF agreement for these two H eyes was easily identified as mistaken, and did not replicate on a subsequent test. Without the 10-2, the aS-aF agreement decreased from 47 to 34 (64.2%) of 53 DG eyes. For the M-method, 37 (69.8%) of the 53 DG eyes showed aS-aF agreement, while omitting the 10-2 VF resulted in agreement in only 33 (62.3%) eyes.

Conclusions

There is good agreement between structural and functional damage, even in eyes with confirmed early glaucomatous damage, if both 24-2 and 10-2 VFs are obtained, and abnormal locations on the VFs are compared to abnormal regions seen on OCT macular and disc scans. This can be done in an objective, automated fashion. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02547740.).

Greater Physical Activity Is Associated with Slower Visual Field Loss in Glaucoma

PURPOSE

To determine the association between physical activity levels and the rate of visual field (VF) loss in glaucoma.

DESIGN

Longitudinal, observational study.

PARTICIPANTS

Older adults with suspect or manifest glaucoma.

METHODS

Participants wore accelerometers for 1 week to define average steps per day, minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity, and minutes of nonsedentary activity. All available VF measurements before and after physical activity assessment were retrospectively analyzed to measure rates of VF loss.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Pointwise changes in VF sensitivity associated with physical activity measures.

RESULTS

A total of 141 participants (mean age, 64.9±5.8 years) were enrolled. Eye mean deviation (MD) at the time of physical activity assessment was -6.6 decibels (dB), and average steps per day were 5613±3158. The unadjusted average rate of VF loss as measured by pointwise VF sensitivity was 0.36 dB/year (95% confidence interval, -0.37 to -0.35). In multivariable models, slower VF loss was observed for patients demonstrating more steps (+0.007 dB/year/1000 daily steps, P < 0.001), more moderate-to-vigorous activity (+0.003 dB/year/10 more minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity per day, P < 0.001), and more nonsedentary activity (+0.007 dB/year/30 more minutes of nonsedentary time per day, P = 0.005). Factors associated with a faster rate of VF loss included older age, non-white race, glaucoma surgery, cataract surgery, and moderate baseline VF damage (-6 dB ≥ MD >-12 dB) as opposed to mild VF damage (MD >-6 dB). Similar associations between baseline accelerometer-measured physical activity and rates of VF loss were observed over other time periods (e.g., within 1, 3, and 5 years of activity assessment).

CONCLUSIONS

Increased walking, greater time spent doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and more time spent in nonsedentary activity were associated with slower rates of VF loss in a treated population of patients with glaucoma, with an additional 5000 daily steps or 2.6 hours of nonsedentary physical activity decreasing the average rate of VF loss by approximately 10%. Future prospective studies are needed to determine if physical activity can slow VF loss in glaucoma or if progressive VF loss results in activity restriction. If the former is confirmed, this would mark physical activity as a novel modifiable risk factor for preventing glaucoma damage.

Effects of the relative positioning between the disc-fovea angle and localized optic disc defects on the 10-2 visual field results in glaucoma

Purpose

To investigate the effects of the foveal position relative to the optic disc on the 10-2 visual field (VF) results of glaucoma patients with localized inferotemporal neuroretinal rim defects (ITD).

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Participants

Fifty-seven eyes of 35 open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients were included and divided into two groups based upon the presence (18 eyes) or not (39 eyes) of ITD.

Methods

Three different parameters obtained from a spectral domain optic coherence tomography (sdOCT) [disc-fovea angle (DFA), fovea vertical deviation (FVD) from midline, and the angular difference between the ITD border and the DFA (DAD)] were tested for their relationship with four 10-2 VF sectors: superior hemifield, superior edge, nasal edge, and superonasal arcuate. These relationships were tested with regression analyses with linear mixed effects models and random intercepts.

Main Outcome Measures

Influences of DFA, FVD, and DAD on 10-2 VF sectors.

Results

Mean (±SD) values of DFA, FVD, and DAD were respectively: -5.05° ± 4.40°, -1346.6 um ± 1609.0 um, and 43.30° ± 17.33°. After adjustment for multiple comparisons, both FVD and DAD, but not DFA, were significantly associated with the severity of defects on the predefined VF sectors. Larger DAD values (third tertile: 54°-77°) showed higher coefficient estimate for the nasal edge sector sensitivities.

Conclusions

The vertical foveal location and its position relative to the ITD was associated with loss of sensitivity at 10-2 VF locations in the superior hemifield. This association was significant but weak and was not seen using other conventional parameters that describe foveal position relative to the optic disc on sdOCT.

A Single Wide-Field OCT Protocol Can Provide Compelling Information for the Diagnosis of Early Glaucoma

Purpose

To evaluate a report for glaucoma diagnosis based on a single optical coherence tomography (OCT) protocol.

Methods

A wide-field (9 × 12 mm) swept-source (SS) OCT scan, encompassing the macula and disc, was obtained on 130 eyes (patients) with or suspected open-angle glaucoma, a mean deviation greater than or equal to −6 dB on a 24-2 visual field (VF), and spherical refractive error between ± 6 diopters (D). The single-page report contained a circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (cpRNFL) thickness plot; retinal ganglion cell layer and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and probability plots of the macula and optic nerve; and an enface slab image of the optic nerve. A report specialist judged each eye as healthy (H); probably healthy (PH); forced-choice healthy (FC-H); optic neuropathy (ON); probably ON (PON); forced-choice optic neuropathy (FC-ON). Two glaucoma specialists made similar judgments about the presence of glaucomatous damage. The glaucoma specialists had 24-2 and 10-2 VFs, fundus photos, patient chart information, and the single-page report including the report specialist's interpretation.

Results

The reference standard consisted of 57 eyes judged as glaucomatous (ON or PON) and 45 eyes judged as healthy (H or PH) by both glaucoma specialists. The report specialist identified 56 of the glaucomatous eyes as optic neuropathy (i.e., ON, PON, or FC-ON), and 44 of the healthy eyes as healthy (i.e., H, PH, or FC-H), an accuracy of 98.0%.

Conclusions

A single-page report based upon a single, wide-field OCT scan has the information needed to diagnose early glaucoma with excellent sensitivity/specificity.

Translational Relevance

It is possible that screening for glaucoma can be effective with only a single OCT protocol.

A Region-of-Interest Approach for Detecting Progression of Glaucomatous Damage With Optical Coherence Tomography

IMPORTANCE

Detecting progression of glaucomatous damage is often challenging.

OBJECTIVE

To test the feasibility of using frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and a region-of-interest (ROI) approach to measure progressive changes in glaucomatous damage.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Among a group of patients in an institutional glaucoma practice who were likely to show glaucoma progression, eyes with a history of an optic disc hemorrhage (DH) confirmed by stereophotography were followed up with FD-OCT cube scans of the optic disc. All patients underwent FD-OCT scans on at least 2 occasions separated by at least 1 year (mean, 3.45 years; range, 1.42-6.39 years). Because we were not studying the effects of an optic DH, no constraint was placed on the time between the documentation of an optic DH and the first scan used in the analysis.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

After en face images of the FD-OCT scan were aligned based on the blood vessels, circumpapillary images were derived for an annulus 100 µm in width, and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness profiles were plotted for the first and last visits. The ROI width associated with the optic DH was defined as the region of the RNFL profile below the 1% CI based on healthy norms. The change in the ROI width was compared with the change in the global RNFL thickness, which was obtained by averaging the circumpapillary RNFL thickness.

RESULTS

The change in the ROI width (mean [SD], 8.0° [6.4°]; 95% CI, 4.9° to 11.1°; range, -0.7° to 19.3°) was significant (P < .001, 2-tailed t test) while the change in the global thickness (mean [SD], 2.40 [5.87] μm; 95% CI, -0.48 to 5.28 μm) was not significant (P > .12, 2-tailed t test). Although 15 of the 16 ROIs increased in width between visits, only 11 showed a decrease in the global RNFL thickness.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

For detecting progression of local RNFL damage in patients with glaucoma, an OCT ROI approach appears superior to the OCT global RNFL thickness measure typically used.

Evaluation of a One-Page Report to Aid in Detecting Glaucomatous Damage

PURPOSE

We assessed the use of a customized, one-page structure + function report for aiding in detection of glaucomatous damage.

METHODS

Two individuals (report specialists), experienced in analyzing optical coherent tomography (OCT) and visual field (VF) results, examined a customized one-page report for 50 eyes from 50 patients who either had glaucoma or were glaucoma suspects. The report contained key features of OCT scans with VF information. All patients had 24-2 VFs with a mean deviation (MD) better than -6 dB. The report specialists classified each hemifield and eye as either glaucomatous or nonglaucomatous based upon only the customized report, either without (phase 1) or with (phase 2) 24-2 VF information included on the report. Their results were compared to the classifications made by 3 ophthalmologists (glaucoma specialists) based upon traditional measures, namely stereo photographs, 24-2 VFs, and a commercially available, OCT disc scan report.

RESULTS

The two report specialists agreed on all but one eye and four hemifields in phase 1, and on all eyes and all but one hemifield in phase 2. In phase 2, they judged 31 eyes abnormal. Of these 31 eyes, 30 were judged abnormal by all three glaucoma specialists and the 31st by two of the three. Without the VF information (phase 1), one report specialist classified 1, and the other 2, of these 31 "abnormal" eyes as normal.

CONCLUSIONS

When using the one-page report, the experienced readers showed excellent inter-rater repeatability and diagnostic ability relative to glaucoma specialists.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

This condensed report may help the clinician assess glaucomatous damage.

A Test of a Model of Glaucomatous Damage of the Macula With High-Density Perimetry: Implications for the Locations of Visual Field Test Points

PURPOSE

To use high-density perimetry to test a model of local glaucomatous damage to the macula (central visual field [VF]) and to assess the optimal placement of stimuli used to detect this damage.

METHODS

Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients showing glaucomatous arcuate damage within the upper hemifield of the central 10° were tested with a customized VF with double the density of the 10-2 (2° grid) test. Individual plots of total deviation (TD) values were generated. A model, which predicts a "vulnerable macular region" (VMR) and a "less vulnerable macular region" (LVMR), was compared with the TD values without (standard model) and with (aligned model) scaling and rotating to align it with the patient's fovea-to-disc axis. Computer simulations assessed alternative VF locations for adding two points to the 6° grid pattern (e.g., 24-2 VF) typically used in the clinic.

RESULTS

There were significantly more abnormal points in the VMR than in the LVMR. However, the aligned model did no better than the standard model in describing the data. The optimal locations for adding two points to the 24-2 (6° grid) test were (-1°, 5°) and (1°, 5°), both within the VMR.

CONCLUSIONS

The model describes the region of the superior VF vulnerable to arcuate damage.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

The model can be used to determine the optimal locations for adding test points to the commonly used VF test pattern (24-2). It does not seem necessary to adjust the location of VF test points based upon interindividual differences in the fovea-to-disc axis.

Prevalence and nature of early glaucomatous defects in the central 10° of the visual field

IMPORTANCE

The macula is essential for visual functioning and is known to be affected even in early glaucoma. However, little is currently understood about the prevalence and nature of central vision loss in early glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and characteristics of visual field (VF) defects in the central 10° in glaucoma suspects and patients with mild glaucoma using a prospective design.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at an outpatient glaucoma specialty clinic. One hundred eyes from 74 patients with glaucomatous optic neuropathy and a 24-2 VF with mean deviation better than -6 dB were prospectively studied and tested with a 10-2 test.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Reliable: VF hemifields were classified as abnormal based on a cluster criterion, and abnormal 10-2 VFs were categorized based on the pattern of abnormal points: arcuatelike, widespread, or other. In addition, at each point of the 10-2 VF, the total deviation values were averaged across eyes and the number of abnormal points with total deviation values below a specific criterion level were calculated. RESULTS There appeared to be as many abnormal 10-2 hemifields (53%) as abnormal 24-2 hemifields (59%). Of the eyes with normal 24-2 hemifields, 16% were classified as abnormal when the 10-2 test was used. Of the abnormal 10-2 hemifields, 68%, 8%, and 25% were arcuatelike, widespread, and other, respectively. The average total deviation values and number of abnormal points plots revealed superior VF defects that were deeper and closer to fixation than those in the inferior VF.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The 10-2 VF was abnormal in nearly as many hemifields as was the 24-2 VF, including some with normal 24-2 VF, suggesting that the 24-2 test is not optimal for detecting early damage of the macula. The pattern of the defects was in agreement with a recent model of macular damage.

Nd:YAG laser goniopuncture for late bleb failure after trabeculectomy with adjunctive mitomycin C

IMPORTANCE

There is an increasing need to prolong trabeculectomy success rates with minimally invasive procedures.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the safety and efficacy of Nd:YAG laser goniopuncture (LGP) in lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes having late bleb failure following trabeculectomy with mitomycin C administration.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Prospective, noncomparative, interventional cohort at a referral glaucoma practice, including 19 eyes of 19 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma after failed trabeculectomy.

INTERVENTIONS

All eyes had ischemic nonfunctioning blebs with patent internal ostia and underwent Nd:YAG LGP, followed by a 5-fluorouracil injection.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The IOP and the number of antiglaucoma medications before and after the procedure, as well as presurgical and postsurgical appearance of the blebs, using the Indiana Bleb Appearance Grading Scale classification.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) time of LGP after trabeculectomy was 35.7 (32.3) months, and the mean (SD) follow-up period after LGP was 6.0 (1.1) months (range, 4.4-8.4 months). The mean (SD) IOP had decreased from 20.9 (4.5) mm Hg (range, 15.5-29.0 mm Hg) to 11.9 (4.1) mm Hg (range, 5.0-21.0 mm Hg) (P < .001). The only complications observed after LGP were 2 cases of hypotony, which resolved spontaneously. Compared with baseline Indiana Bleb Appearance Grading Scale classifications, 2 eyes showed an increase in bleb height and 10 eyes showed an increase in bleb extension. None of the eyes had a positive Seidel test result. The mean (SD) number of hypotensive agents per eye had decreased from 0.7 (1.1) to 0.3 (0.7) after the procedure. At the last follow-up visit, 15 eyes (79%) had achieved an IOP of 15 mm Hg or less, with a minimum IOP reduction of 20% from baseline without medication use.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The Nd:YAG LGP is a safe and effective procedure for lowering IOP in eyes with ischemic nonfunctioning blebs and patent trabeculectomy ostia. This is a promising solution to rescue failed trabeculectomies and can potentially prolong trabeculectomy success rates.

Optic disc progression and rates of visual field change in treated glaucoma

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between optic disc progression and rates of visual field (VF) change in patients with treated glaucoma.

METHODS

Glaucoma patients with repeatable VF loss, ≥8 SITA-Standard 24-2 VF tests and good quality optic disc stereophotographs evaluated over a 10-year period were included. Optic disc photographs were reviewed for signs of glaucoma progression (neuroretinal rim change, widening of retinal nerve fibre layer defect, disc haemorrhage and enlargement of beta-zone parapapillary atrophy) by two glaucoma specialists masked to their temporal sequence. Disagreements were adjudicated by a third grader. VF progression was evaluated using automated pointwise linear regression (PLR) and defined as at least two adjacent test points progressing >1.0 dB/year at p < 0.01. VF progression outcomes were compared with photograph review results.

RESULTS

Three-hundred and eighty nine eyes (389 patients; mean age 64.9 ± 13.0 years; mean baseline MD, -7.1 ± 5.1 dB) were included. Most patients had primary open angle glaucoma (54%). Eighty-two eyes (21%) had confirmed optic disc progression and 115 eyes (29%) met the VF PLR criteria. Eyes with documented optic disc progression had more rapid rates of VF change (-0.66 ± 0.7 versus -0.36 ± 0.7 dB/year, p < 0.01) and met the VF PLR endpoint more often (univariate OR = 1.85, p = 0.02; multivariate OR = 1.78, p = 0.03) than eyes without optic disc progression. There was moderate spatial consistency between the location of the optic disc progression and the hemifield with more rapid progression (81%, kappa = 0.40).

CONCLUSIONS

Treated glaucomatous eyes with documented optic disc progression are at increased risk of diminished visual function over time and may require more aggressive therapy to prevent future vision loss. Among the indicators of structural progression, disc haemorrhage was the single most significant predictor for VF deterioration.

Reproducibility of intraocular pressure peak and fluctuation of the water-drinking test

BACKGROUND

The water-drinking test has been used as a stress test to evaluate the drainage system of the eye. However, in order to be clinically applicable,a test must provide reproducible results with consistent measurements. This study was performed to verify the reproducibility of intraocular pressure peaks and fluctuation detected during the water-drinking test in patients with ocular hypertension and open-angle glaucoma.

DESIGN

A prospective analysis of patients in a tertiary care unit for glaucoma treatment.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-four ocular hypertension and 64 open-angle glaucoma patients not under treatment.

METHODS

The water-drinking test was performed in 2 consecutive days by the same examiners in patients not under treatment. Reproducibility was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Peak and fluctuation of intraocular pressure obtained with the water-drinking test were analysed for reproducibility.

RESULTS

Eighty-eight eyes from 24 ocular hypertension and 64 open-angle glaucoma patients not under treatment were evaluated. Test and retest intraocular pressure peak values were 28.38 ± 4.64 and 28.38 ± 4.56 mmHg, respectively (P = 1.00). Test and retest intraocular pressure fluctuation values were 5.75 ± 3.9 and 4.99 ± 2.7 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.06). Based on intraclass coefficient, reproducibility was excellent for peak intraocular pressure (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.79) and fair for intraocular pressure fluctuation (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.37).

CONCLUSION

Intraocular pressure peaks detected during the water-drinking test presented excellent reproducibility, whereas the reproducibility of fluctuation was considered fair.

Examination of the performance of different pointwise linear regression progression criteria to detect glaucomatous visual field change

BACKGROUND

We aimed to investigate the performance of five different trend analysis criteria for the detection of glaucomatous progression and to determine the most frequently and rapidly progressing locations of the visual field.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort.

PARTICIPANTS OR SAMPLES

Treated glaucoma patients with ≥ 8 Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA)-standard 24-2 visual field tests.

METHODS

Progression was determined using trend analysis. Five different criteria were used: (A) ≥ 1 significantly progressing point; (B) ≥ 2 significantly progressing points; (C) ≥ 2 progressing points located in the same hemifield; (D) at least two adjacent progressing points located in the same hemifield; (E) ≥ 2 progressing points in the same Garway-Heath map sector.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Number of progressing eyes and false-positive results.

RESULTS

We included 587 patients. The number of eyes reaching a progression end-point using each criterion was: A = 300 (51%); B = 212 (36%); C = 194 (33%); D = 170 (29%); and E = 186 (31%) (P ≤ 0.03). The numbers of eyes with positive slopes were: A = 13 (4.3%); B = 3 (1.4%); C = 3 (1.5%); D = 2 (1.1%); and E = 3 (1.6%) (P = 0.06). The global slopes for progressing eyes were more negative in Groups B, C and D than in Group A (P = 0.004). The visual field locations that progressed more often were those in the nasal field adjacent to the horizontal midline.

CONCLUSIONS

Pointwise linear regression criteria that take into account the retinal nerve fibre layer anatomy enhances the specificity of trend analysis for the detection glaucomatous visual field progression.