To evaluate risk factors of rapid visual field progression in normal-tension glaucoma.

The authors of the present study reviewed the medical records of patients with normal-tension glaucoma who were treated between 2001 and 2011. The rapid progression group was composed of patients who showed a visual field index progression rate of ≤ -2.0%/yr, and the slow progression group was composed of patients who showed a visual field index progression rate of > -1.0%/yr using a Humphrey visual field analyzer (HFA). Age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, migraine history, family history of glaucoma, refractive error, central corneal thickness, disc hemorrhage, beta-zone parapapillary atrophy, baseline mean deviation, pattern standard deviation, initial IOP, mean follow-up IOP, peak IOP, IOP fluctuation, and number of eye drops between the 2 groups were compared.

Among the 52 patients with normal-tension glaucoma, 26 were classified into the rapid progression group and 26 were classified into the slow progression group. The mean visual field index progression rate was -3.92%/yr and -0.42%/yr, respectively. In the univariable model, migraine history, disc hemorrhage, beta-zone parapapillary atrophy, and number of eye drops were associated with rapid visual field progression. According to multivariate analysis, disc hemorrhage and number of eye drops were statistically significant risk factors.

Disc hemorrhage and number of eye drops were associated with rapid visual field progression in normal tension glaucoma patients.