Purpose: To study the ability of Heidelberg Retina Tomography III (HRT 3) measurements to predict perimetry changes in patients with early glaucoma or suspected primary open-angle glaucoma.
Material and methods: One hundred and thirty two eyes with early glaucoma or suspected glaucoma with no changes in basal perimetry were prospectively selected and periodically evaluated over five years. The eyes were divided in two groups depending on the presence or absence of progression (changes in glaucoma perimetry). The association between morphometric parameters and baseline HRT 3 indices, glaucoma probability score (GPS) and Moorefield's Regression Analysis (MRA), and perimetry progression were studied using Cox multivariate regression analyses. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to illustrate the results.
Results: Forty-eight eyes (36.36%) showed perimetry progression. Perimetry progression showed higher correlations with the disc area (p = 0.001), the cup area (p = 0.002) and the vertical cup disc area (p = 0.001). Multivariate regression analyses showed that eyes with baseline MRA or baseline GPA changes were at a higher risk of having perimetry abnormalities and a faster progression.
Conclusions: MRA and GPA indices are useful to predict perimetry progression in patients with early primary open-angle glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. These indices can be used as risk markers of functional progression in glaucoma.