Flavio Ss Lopes

Background/Aims: Optic disc hemorrhage (DH) is an important glaucoma risk factor, and occurs in a wide intraocular pressure (IOP) range. We sought to characterize distinct clinical subtypes of patients with high- (HTDH) and low-tension DHs (LTDH). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, treated glaucomatous patients with DHs from two Glaucoma Services were consecutively enrolled. Disc photographs were evaluated for the presence of DH by two glaucoma specialists. After inclusion, patients were classified on HTDH (IOP ≥ 16mmHg) and LTDH (IOP< 16mmHg; median split). Clinical and ocular data from the time of DH detection were compared between groups. Results: One hundred thirty-three DH patients were included (LTDH = 66 eyes; HTDH = 67 eyes). Patients with LTDH were more often women than those with HTDH (77% vs 42%; p = 0.030). There was also a trend for a higher prevalence of Asian descendants (24% vs 9%; p = 0.058) and symptoms suggestive of vascular dysregulation (34% vs 14%; p = 0.057) in LTDH patients. Eyes with LTDH also had worse visual field (VF) mean deviation index (p = 0.037), higher prevalence of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) diagnosis (46% vs 17%; p< 0.001) and tended to have thinner central corneas (p = 0.066). Conclusion: Patients developing DHs with treated IOPs in the low teens seem to more frequently fit in a profile represented by women, NTG diagnosis and greater VF loss. The presence of symptoms suggestive of vascular dysregulation and race also seem to differ between these two clinical subtypes. A closer optic disc surveillance is recommended for patients with the LTDH subtype, as they may develop DHs despite seemingly well-controlled IOP.

To investigate structural and functional correlations in glaucoma patients using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI OCT)-derived parameters. We prospectively enrolled healthy participants and glaucomatous patients with a wide range of disease stages. All participants underwent visual field (VF) testing (SITA - Standard 24–2; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) and EDI OCT imaging (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering Co., Heidelberg, Germany). The following optic nerve head parameters were measured on serial vertical EDI OCT B-scans by two experienced examiners masked to patients clinical data: lamina cribrosa (LC) thickness and area, prelaminar neural tissue thickness and area, anterior LC depth, Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) and average, superior, and inferior BMO-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW). Only good quality images were considered, and whenever both eyes were eligible, one was randomly selected for analysis. Scatter plots were constructed to investigate correlations between each anatomic parameter and patient’s VF status (based on VF index [VFI] values). A total of 73 eyes of 73 patients were included. All EDI OCT parameters evaluated differed significantly between glaucomatous and control eyes (P ≤ 0.045). A secondary analysis, in which glaucomatous patients were divided according to VF mean deviation index values into 3 groups (mild [G1; > − 6 dB], moderate [G2; − 6 to − 12 dB] and advanced [G3; <− 12 dB] glaucoma), revealed that average BMO-MRW was the EDI OCT parameter that presented more significant differences between the different stages of glaucoma. Significant structure-function correlations were found between VFI values and prelaminar neural tissue area (R2 = 0.20, P = 0.017), average BMO-MRW (R2 = 0.35, P ≤ 0.001), superior BMO-MRW (R2 = 0.21, P = 0.012), and inferior BMO-MRW (R2 = 0.27, P = 0.002). No significant correlations were found for LC area and anterior LC depth (P ≥ 0.452). Evaluating the distribution pattern and structure-function correlations of different laminar and prelaminar EDI OCT-derived parameters in glaucomatous patients, we found better results for neural tissue-based indexes (compared to LC-derived parameters). The diagnostic utility of each parameter deserves further investigations.

To identify success predictors and to study the role of the fellow untreated eye as a co-variable for adjustment of intraocular pressure (IOP) outcomes following selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in early open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients. A case series was carried out. Patients with uncontrolled early OAG or ocular hypertension (inadequate IOP control requiring additional treatment) underwent SLT (one single laser session) performed by the same surgeon in a standardized fashion. The same preoperative medical regimen was maintained during follow-up for all patients. Post-treatment assessments were scheduled at week 1 and months 1, 2, and 3. In order to account for possible influence of IOP fluctuation on laser outcomes, post-laser IOP values of the treated eye of each patient were also analyzed adjusting for IOP changes (between visits variation) of the untreated fellow eye (adjusted analysis). Pre and post-laser IOP values were compared using paired t-test. Factors associated with the magnitude of IOP reduction were investigated using multiple regression analysis. A total of 45 eyes of 45 patients were enrolled. Mean IOP was reduced from 20.8 ± 5.1 to 14.9 ± 2.9 mmHg at month 3 (p < 0.001). Adjusted success rate (defined as IOP reduction ≥ 20%) was 64% and mean percentage of IOP reduction was 23.1 ± 14.3% at last follow-up visit. Considering unadjusted post-laser IOP values, it was found a 20% greater absolute IOP reduction (median [interquartile range] 6 mmHg [4–7] vs 5 mmHg [3–7]; p = 0.04), with a success rate of 76%. Although baseline IOP was significantly associated with both adjusted and unadjusted post-laser IOP reduction, a stronger association was found when unadjusted IOP values were considered (p < 0.001 and R2 = 0.35; p < 0.001 and R2 = 0.67, respectively). Age, mean deviation (MD) index, central corneal thickness and type of glaucoma were not significant predictors (p ≥ 0.150). In this group of patients with early OAG or ocular hypertension, our short-term results confirmed SLT as a safe and effective alternative for IOP reduction. Although better outcomes were found in eyes with higher preoperative IOP, this effect was mitigated when results were adjusted to the fellow untreated eye (to the influence of between visits-IOP fluctuations).

To investigate possible differences in neuroretinal rim distribution, vascular pattern, and peripapillary region appearance between eyes with presumed large physiological optic disc cupping (pLPC) and eyes with minimal optic disc excavation.