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

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.