Purpose: To determine width and shape of neuro-retinal rim in normal hypertensive subjects and patients with glaucomatous damage.
Material and method: Patients underwent a perimetry and a photographic retinal nerve fiber evaluation. Patients were divided in three groups: normal subjects (n=34), ocular hypertension subjects (n=38) and glaucoma patients (n=34). Neuro-retinal rim was measured using 40 degrees stereoscopic photographs with center in the optic nerve head based on a biomorphometry technique.
Results: In normal subjects neuro-retinal rim appeared wider in the lower pole, followed by the upper, nasal and temporal aspects. Optic nerve fiber layer showed a decreased thickness in hypertensive and glaucoma patients, particularly in sectors of the temporal aspect of the optic nerve (p<0.05).
Conclusions: A Planimetry study of the optic nerve is able to detect alterations in normal neuro-retinal rim configuration and can as well detect thinning of the rim, particularly in temporal, upper and lower areas.