Clinical Types of Glaucoma and Comparison Between Diffuse and Focal Nerve Fiber Layer Defects

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the characteristics of patients whose nerve fiber layer (NFL) photographs showing diffuse or focal nerve fiber layer defects. METHODS: Patients with diffuse NFL defect were selected by comparing upper and lower half of a NFL photo, and we included the patients only when one part of it showed NFL defect. Patients with focal NFL defect were selected only when one eye had a wedge-shape NFL defect. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in visual field index, nor in the results of glaucoma hemifield test. However, patients with diffuse NFL defect (13 eyes, 13 patients) mostly had primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (62%), and patients with focal NFL defect (13 eyes, 13 patients) mostly had normal- tension glaucoma (NTG) (62%) (p=0.048, chi-square test). CONCLUSIONS: We found significant differences in the diagnosis of glaucoma between the diffuse and focal NFL loss groups. Our results suggest that the characteristics of NFL loss in POAG and NTG may be different.