Peripapillary Choroidal Circulation in Glaucoma

Abstract

Fluorescein angiography was performed at normal intraocular pressure levels and during induced ocular hypertension in glaucoma suspects and patients. Angiograms obtained at normal intraocular pressure levels in patients with glaucomatous cupping and visual field loss demonstrated either a delay in choroidal fluorescence that involved the entire choroid or, more frequently, a delay that involved a sharply outlined area of choroid near the temporal disc border. Angiography performed at intraocular pressures near 60 mm Hg in glaucoma suspects and patients with pathologic cupping revealed defects in peripapillary choroidal fluorescence. In patients without field loss, these defects were separated from the disc border by a rim of normally fluorescent choroid, whereas in patients with field loss, defects extended to the temporal disc border. These defects in peripapillary choroidal fluorescence are relevant to the development of visual field loss.