ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To study the relation between the progression of glaucoma and the expression of zone beta in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: One hundred thirty eyes with POAG and 62 with NTG were enrolled in this study. We classified them based on the expression of zone beta and compared their optic nerve head parameters. We looked for changes in optic nerve head parameters depending on the expression of zone beta in patients who received HRT at least 1 year previously, and whose maximal intraocular pressure (IOP) during the follow-up periods was controlled under 21 mmHg. RESULTS: In the POAG patients, the group with zone beta had significantly larger cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio, and significantly smaller neural rim area and volume, than the group without zone beta. In the NTG patients optic nerve head parameters did not show statistically significant difference. Compared with the previous values, C/D ratio, neural rim area and volume showed significant progression in POAG with zone beta, but did not show significant change in POAG without zone beta and in NTG. CONCLUSIONS: In POAG, the expression of zone beta was associated with more severe optic nerve damage and faster progression than in patients without zone beta. In NTG, the expression of zone beta was not associated with significant changes in the optic nerve shape or the progression of glaucoma.