Predictive Value of Heidelberg Retina Tomograph Parameters for the Development of Glaucoma in the European Glaucoma Prevention Study




Purpose


To determine whether baseline Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) measurements of the optic disc are associated with the development of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in individuals with ocular hypertension in the European Glaucoma Prevention Study (EGPS).


Design


Retrospective analysis of a prospective, randomized, multicenter, double-masked, controlled clinical trial.


Methods


There were 489 participants in the HRT Ancillary Study to the EGPS. Each baseline HRT parameter was assessed in univariate and multivariate proportional hazards models to determine its association with the development of OAG. Proportional hazards models were used to identify HRT variables that predicted which participants in the EGPS had developed OAG. Development of OAG was based on visual field and/or optic disc changes.


Results


At a median follow-up time of about 5 years, 61 participants developed OAG. In multivariate analyses, adjusting for randomization arm, age, baseline IOP, central corneal thickness, pattern standard deviation, and HRT disc area, the following HRT parameters were associated with the development of OAG: the “outside normal limits” classification of the Frederick Mikelberg (FSM) discriminant function (hazard ratio [HR] 2.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.45–4.35), larger mean cup depth (HR 1.64, 95% CI: 1.21–2.23), cup-to-disc area ratio (HR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.14–1.80), linear cup-to-disc ratio (HR 1.43, 95% CI: 1.13–1.80), cup area (HR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.08–1.64), smaller rim area (HR 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07–1.64), larger cup volume (HR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.05–1.61), smaller rim volume (HR 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01–1.54), larger maximum cup depth (HR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01–1.36), and cup shape measure (HR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01–1.36).


Conclusions


Several baseline HRT parameters, alone or in combination with baseline clinical and demographic factors, were significantly associated with the development of OAG among the EGPS participants.


Prevention of blindness from glaucoma remains one of the major goals in ophthalmology. At present the therapeutic strategies are mainly based on a medical or a surgical approach aimed at decreasing intraocular pressure (IOP). Ocular hypertension (OHT) has been recognized as the most important risk factor for the development of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and, as of today, is the only factor that can be significantly influenced by medication or surgery. Among other risk factors that are deemed important in the genesis of the disease, such as age, race, family history, and low diastolic perfusion pressure, only the latter can hypothetically benefit from a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach.


A strategy aimed at preventing the onset of OAG among patients with OHT is best based on the identification of predictive factors. Older age, higher IOP, larger vertical or horizontal cup-to-disc (C/D) ratio, greater pattern standard deviation (PSD), and thinner central corneal thickness (CCT) at baseline have been found to be predictors for the onset of OAG in the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study (OHTS) and in the European Glaucoma Prevention Study (EGPS). By merging the datasets of the OHTS and the EGPS it has been possible to provide a risk calculator for the development of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) within 5 years, which may estimate the individual risk profile and be helpful to the clinician in establishing the management of OHT in each specific patient.


Both the OHTS and the EGPS have conducted an ancillary study in a subset of the original sample based on the use of the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) in order to assess whether HRT results could be predictive for the development of OAG. From the introduction of the first dedicated HRT confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (CSLO) in 1989 for disc imaging and topography, the overall agreement based on the results of several studies is that HRT may identify early signs of structural glaucomatous damage. The HRT Ancillary Study of the OHTS has confirmed these observations, suggesting that the clinical use of HRT in OHT patients may predict the development of POAG.


This report describes the HRT predictive parameters for development of OAG among the OHT patients enrolled in the EGPS. Given the similarities between the protocols for the OHTS and the EGPS, our results may add to the refinement of a more accurate identification of OHT patients who may warrant treatment with ocular hypotensive medications, and are the ground for the ongoing OHTS-EGPS HRT Collaborative Study.


Methods


The EGPS was a multicenter randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Since it was planned in 1995, it started thereafter, and it was not ongoing by December 2007, the EGPS is not registered either at “ clinicaltrials.gov ” or at “ controlled-trials.com .” The design and methods of the EGPS were previously described and are summarized as follows. This HRT Ancillary Study to the EGPS is a retrospective analysis of the original prospective clinical trial.


The protocol was approved by the ethical review committee of each participating clinic, and each patient gave his or her informed consent to be enrolled in the study. In brief, 1081 individuals with IOP ≥22 mm Hg in at least 1 eye and no evidence of glaucomatous damage were randomized to either dorzolamide or placebo. Four patients who were found to have glaucoma at the time of randomization were discontinued from the study and excluded from further analyses, leaving a total of 1077 patients. The primary outcome was the development of a reproducible visual field change from baseline, or a clinically detectable optic disc change from baseline as determined by 2 of 3 independent evaluators. Visual field (VF) and optic disc changes were identified by masked certified evaluators at the central coordinating center, and the confirmation that the endpoint was attributable to OAG was determined after masked review of the clinical charts. Both visual field and optic disc photographs were performed every 6 months. Worsening of visual field was reached when at least 1 of the following criteria was met: (1) ≥3 horizontally or vertically adjacent points that differ ≥5 dB from baseline, (2) ≥2 horizontally or vertically adjacent points that differ ≥10 dB from baseline, (3) difference of ≥10 dB across nasal horizontal meridian at ≥2 adjacent points. The loss had to be not attributable to other pathologies.


The sensitivity loss was defined relative to the baseline (normal) values of each patient. The superior and inferior rows of the physiologic blind spot were excluded from the field evaluation. To meet the criteria that defined the occurrence of visual field endpoint, the patient had to repeat the VF testing within 30 days. If the defect was confirmed in the same test locations, the patient had to repeat a third VF test. If the defect was confirmed again, the VF endpoint was considered as met (the 3 VF results had to be consecutive). In case of questionable worsening the patient continued the study and repeated the VF test at the next follow-up visit. Worsening of the optic disc was defined as a visually recognizable (on stereophotographs) narrowing of the neuroretinal rim area (localized or diffuse) not attributable to photographic artifacts. This was detected by comparing follow-up stereoscopic optic disc slides with baseline stereoscopic optic disc slides. An optic disc endpoint was reached when 2 out of 3 optic disc reading centers independently determined worsening. If the worsening appeared questionable, the patient continued in the study and pictures were taken again at the next follow-up visit.


A detailed collection of clinical data was obtained from each participant by self-report. This information included ocular and medical history and current use of medication. Medical history was obtained by self-report from the participant.


Baseline demographic and clinical information were collected for each participant prior to randomization. The baseline and follow-up visits included assessment of refraction and visual acuity using the standard procedures at each given office; Goldmann applanation tonometry performed and recorded by a single investigator between 8:00 and 11:00 AM (ie, at least 1 but not more than 3 hours after the last dose of study medication); complete ophthalmologic examination including gonioscopy, automated static perimetry with a Humphrey (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA) or Octopus (Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz-Berne, Switzerland) instrument using a central 30-degree program with threshold double-crossing strategy; and color slide stereophotography of the optic disc. Myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent of −1.0 diopter (D) or more. Horizontal and vertical C/D ratios by contour were estimated visually from stereoscopic optic disc photographs by masked certified readers. C/D ratio asymmetry was calculated by subtracting the C/D ratio value of 1 eye from that of the other eye.


In the EGPS, 241 out of 1077 patients underwent Octopus visual field evaluations, which calculate “loss variance” instead of “pattern standard deviation.” Therefore, the indices of the Octopus were converted to the indices of the Humphrey system. One approach could have been the algorithms reported by Zeyen and associates, but these were derived from glaucomatous visual fields. Based on personal information (Heijl A, and Johnson C, oral communication, September 1, 2005), the mean defect, loss variance, and corrected loss variance of the Octopus system were converted to the mean deviation (MD), PSD, and corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD) of the Humphrey visual field testing. This was performed by changing the sign in front of the value of mean defect and by calculating the square root of the loss variance and corrected loss variance, respectively.


Although not included in the original protocol of the study, CCT measurements were taken during the trial in a large sample of the patients: 429 in the dorzolamide group (80.0%) and 425 in the placebo group (78.5%). CCT was performed using the same pachymeter employed in the OHTS (DGH-500 Pachette; DGH Technologies, Exton, Pennsylvania, USA) following a standard procedure in all the centers, which included the use of topical anesthesia and the acquisition of 5 measurements in both eyes. The average of the mean of the 5 measurements of the 2 eyes was considered for analysis. When only 1 eye was included in the study, the mean of the 5 measurements of that eye was considered for the analysis. This measurement was begun in 2002, 3 years after the randomization of the last patient enrolled in the study.


In the EGPS, a total of 106 out of 1077 patients developed OAG over the course of the trial. However, among the patients who discontinued the study and were followed according to the same protocol until the end of the study (293 patients), 14 developed a visual field (6) or optic disc (8) endpoint after the discontinuation for a total of 120 patients who developed OAG, regardless of the time that OAG occurred.


In this publication, glaucoma is always referred to as OAG for consistency throughout the manuscript. It is noted that the EGPS allowed for the inclusion of patients affected by pigment dispersion syndrome (PDS) or pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX), which may lead to secondary OAG.


Heidelberg Retina Tomograph


The Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT; Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) is a confocal scanning laser device that uses a 670-nm diode laser to obtain 2- and 3-dimensional images of the optic nerve head and the peripapillary retina. HRT examinations within the EGPS started at the baseline examination. The HRT images were obtained every 6 months or at least annually. In all eyes, 10-degree HRT images were acquired at baseline and throughout the study using the older hardware version (HRT “classic”). A topographic image is built from a series of 32 consecutive optical sections, each consisting of 256 × 256 pixels. A mean image is generated by 3 consecutive scans. A minimum of 2 but preferably 3 images were obtained, and a mean image was created for each eye. Keratometry measurements were used to correct for magnification error. For analysis purposes, all HRT data were analyzed in software version 3.0 (Heyex platform).


Assessment of image quality was performed by means of the automatic quality control “Auto QC” feature of the software according to the following recommended criteria to reject images: underexposure, severe overexposure, focus greater than or equal to 75 diopters, scan depth too small, scan depth too high (equal to or greater than 1 mm), standard deviation greater than 50 μm (mean pixel height standard deviation). The optic disc margin, defined as the inner margin of the scleral ring, was outlined on the mean topography image by 1 experienced examiner. Each outline of the optic disc was reviewed for accurate placement by a second experienced examiner (with differences of opinion resolved by consensus). The reference plane was automatically determined at 50 μm posterior to the mean retinal height between 350 degrees and 356 degrees (papillomacular bundle) along the contour line.


Automatic HRT image quality assessment and drawing of the contour line took place at the EGPS HRT Reading Center at the Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center of Mainz, Germany. A second independent image quality control step was performed at the OHTS CSLO Reading Center, University of California, San Diego (San Diego, California, USA), with the goal of including as many “good-quality” scans as possible, using the same review criteria that had been used for the OHTS CSLO Ancillary Study.


The following stereometric parameters and multidiscriminant functions were calculated and evaluated: disc area; cup area; rim area; cup volume; rim volume; C/D area; linear C/D; mean cup depth; maximum cup depth; cup shape measure; height variation contour (HVC); retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) cross-sectional area; mean RNFL thickness; reference plane height; standard deviation; Frederick Mikelberg’s discriminant function (FSM), which corresponds to the “HRT classification”; Reinhard Burk’s discriminant function (RB); Moorfields regression analysis (MRA); and the Glaucoma Probability Score (GPS). The FSM uses a formula that takes into account rim volume, cup shape measure, and height variation contour, adjusting for age. The RB uses the same parameters as the FSM, but weights them differently. Both discriminant analyses classify the image as being normal or outside normal limits. MRA compares global and sectorial rim area (after adjusting for disc area) to a normative database. MRA is classified as “within normal limits” if a given rim area is equal to or greater than confidence interval at 95% (95% CI), “borderline” if it is between 95% and 99.9% CI, and “outside normal limits” if it is >99.9% CI. GPS uses 2 measurements of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer shape (horizontal and vertical RNFL curvature) and 3 measurements of the optic nerve head shape (cup size, cup depth, and rim steepness) for input into a vector machine-learning classifier that estimates the probability of having damage consistent with glaucoma. Both MRA and GPS classify the image as being within normal limits, borderline, or outside normal limits. For the sake of the analysis, results classified as being “borderline” have been considered as being “within normal limits.”


Statistical Analysis


When both eyes were included in the study (366 patients), for some eye-specific variables, the mean for each eye (eg, the mean of the 2 IOP or the 5 CCT measurements) was calculated and then these 2 values were averaged to determine the baseline predictive factor. For other eye-specific variables, the second obtained measurement (eg, the second baseline visual field test) or the only available measurement (eg, the C/D ratios) was used and then the values of the 2 eyes were averaged to determine the baseline predictive factor. When 1 eye only was included in the study (123 patients), only the data from the included eye were used. When both eyes were included in the study, the mean of the 2 eyes was calculated for each HRT parameter. In the case of FSM, RB, MRA, and GPS, if 1 of the 2 included eyes was outside normal limits then the classification for study purposes was “outside normal limits.” When only 1 eye was included in the study, only the data from the included eye were used.


Cox proportional hazards models as implemented in the PHREG program in the SAS statistical software (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina, USA) were used to estimate and test factors for their association with the development of OAG. The analysis sample for the proportional hazards models consisted of 61 randomized participants who developed POAG and 428 randomized patients who did not develop OAG before the end of the trial (September 2003). Median participant follow-up was 59.5 months, or about 5 years. Proportional hazard models were used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Variables that were found to be associated with OAG development in the univariate analysis ( P < .1) were considered for the multivariate analysis. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were evaluated in the entire study sample using the treated arm as stratification variables. Two multivariate analyses were performed for each single HRT parameter that was associated with OAG development in univariate analysis, the former also including in the model age, CCT, baseline mean IOP, and PSD, which are the baseline predictive factors for the development of OAG found in the EGPS, and the latter including in the model the same baseline factors and HRT disc area, given the previously reported high correlation between several HRT parameters and HRT disc area. Vertical C/D ratio, which is also a significant predictive factor for OAG in the EGPS, was not included in any analysis given the consistency of HRT and ophthalmoscopic evaluations, obviously performed on the same anatomic structure (the optic disc). With a stratified Cox model, a proportional hazard structure is assumed to hold within each stratum. The relative effect of each predictor is assumed the same across strata, unless there is a significant strata-by-covariate interaction, which implies that the effect of the particular covariate differs within strata. One disadvantage of using a stratified model is that an effect of the stratification covariate cannot be estimated in the model, at least in the sense of a coefficient estimate. Since we were not interested in estimating the effect of treatment, but only in taking it into account when estimating the effect of other variables, the stratified model seemed the most appropriate method to be used, as also adopted by others (OHTS). Results are expressed as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs Statistical significance was defined as P < .05 for a bilateral test.


A 2-sided log-rank test was performed at the 5% significance level. The primary variable was the length of time to develop glaucomatous damage, that is, the time from randomization to first confirmed occurrence of a worsened visual field or a worsened optic disc. The univariate difference between a baseline abnormal or normal HRT examination with respect to the primary variable was assessed using survival analysis.




Results


Of the 1077 participants in the EGPS Study, 489 (45.4%) were included in the HRT study, accounting for 4052 good-quality HRT images taken during the study. Images were taken in both eyes in 366 participants whereas they were taken in 1 eye only (the same included in the clinical trial) in 123 participants, for a total of 855 eyes. As the EGPS clinical trial began before the availability of the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope at all the sites involved in the EGPS HRT substudy, not all participants completed their imaging at the EGPS baseline visit. Of the 489 participants with good-quality images included in this study, 177 (36.2%) had images obtained at the baseline visit, 76 (15.5%) at the 6- or 12-month visit, 122 (24.9%) at the 18- or 24-month visit, 44 (9%) at the 30- or 36-month visit, and 70 (14.3%) later. Among the 312 participants who were not evaluated by means of HRT at baseline, the mean (±SD) time between randomization and first HRT examination was 2.06 ± 1.3 years in 267 participants not developing OAG, and 1.59 ± 0.56 years in 45 participants who developed OAG.


Demographic characteristics of the subjects participating and nonparticipating in the HRT study have been previously published. Table 1 and Table 2 report those of the 489 OHT patients by OAG status. At a median follow-up of 59.5 months 61 patients developed OAG, defined by an optic disc endpoint in 27 and by a visual field endpoint in 34 cases. Fifty-two endpoints were reached during the trial and 9 endpoints were reached after discontinuation of the patient from the clinical trial.



Table 1

Baseline Demographic Characteristics by Open-Angle Glaucoma Status (Average of the Eyes)
















































































































































































Characteristic Normal Number (%) All
OAG Endpoint
Sex
Female 232 (87.55) 33 (12.45) 265 (100)
Male 196 (87.50) 28 (12.50) 224 (100)
High blood pressure
No 280 (88.89) 35 (11.11) 315 (100)
Yes 148 (85.06) 26 (14.94) 174 (100)
Cardiovascular diseases
No 372 (88.78) 47 (11.22) 419 (100)
Yes 56 (80.00) 14 (20.00) 70 (100)
Diabetes
No 399 (87.31) 58 (12.69) 457 (100)
Yes 29 (90.63) 3 (9.38) 32 (100)
Diuretics
No 380 (88.99) 47 (11.01) 427 (100)
Yes 48 (77.42) 14 (22.58) 62 (100)
ACE inhibitors
No 321 (88.43) 42 (11.57) 363
Yes 107 (84.92) 19 (15.08) 126
Calcium channel blockers
No 366 (88.41) 48 (11.59) 414 (100)
Yes 62 (82.67) 13 (17.33) 75 (100)
Beta blockers
No 359 (87.60) 48 (12.40) 387 (100)
Yes 89 (87.25) 13 (12.75) 102 (100)
FSM
Normal a 337 (90.59) 35 (9.41) 372 (100)
Abnormal b 91 (77.78) 26 (22.22) 117 (100)
GPS
Normal a 349 (88.35) 46 (11.65) 395 (100)
Abnormal b 63 (82.89) 13 (17.11) 76 (100)
MRA
Normal a 394 (88.74) 50 (11.26) 444 (100)
Abnormal b 34 (75.56) 11 (24.44) 45 (100)

ACE = angiotensin-converting enzyme; FSM = Frederick Mikelberg discriminant function; GPS = Glaucoma Probability Score; MRA = Moorfields regression analysis; OAG = open-angle glaucoma

a Within normal limits + borderline.


b Outside normal limits.



Table 2

Baseline Demographic and Ocular Characteristics by Open-Angle Glaucoma Status (Average of the Eyes)
















































































































































































































































Characteristic Normal OAG Endpoint All
Sample Size Mean (SD) Sample Size Mean (SD) Sample Size Mean (SD)
Age 428 56.70 (9.57) 61 61.74 (8.87) 489 57.33 (9.62)
Baseline IOP 428 23.62 (1.52) 61 24.04 (1.78) 489 23.68 (1.56)
Refraction 428 0.21 (1.89) 61 0.56 (1.80) 489 0.26 (1.88)
MD 428 0.44 (1.44) 61 0.91 (1.33) 489 0.50 (1.43)
PSD 428 1.97 (0.58) 61 2.07 (0.56) 489 1.98 (0.58)
CPSD 428 1.05 (0.66) 61 1.17 (0.59) 489 1.07 (0.66)
Best-corrected visual acuity 428 −0.02 (0.06) 61 −0.02 (0.04) 489 −0.02 (0.06)
CCT 351 578.82 (36.88) 57 560.87 (29.03) 408 576.31 (36.39)
Vertical C/D 428 0.34 (0.14) 61 0.40 (0.13) 489 0.35 (0.14)
Vertical C/D asymmetry 428 0.05 (0.06) 61 0.09 (0.08) 489 0.05 (0.07)
Keratometry 428 7.68 (0.17) 61 7.69 (0.13) 489 7.68 (0.17)
HRT parameters
Disc area 428 2.05 (0.42) 61 2.02 (0.40) 489 2.04 (0.42)
Cup area 428 0.51 (0.38) 61 0.62 (0.38) 489 0.53 (0.38)
Rim area 428 1.53 (0.29) 61 1.40 (0.34) 489 1.52 (0.30)
Cup volume 428 0.12 (0.13) 61 0.16 (0.15) 489 0.13 (0.14)
Rim volume 428 0.41 (0.15) 61 0.36 (0.14) 489 0.41 (0.15)
C/D area 428 0.24 (0.14) 61 0.29 (0.14) 489 0.25 (0.14)
C/D linear 428 0.45 (0.16) 61 0.52 (0.15) 489 0.46 (0.16)
Cup depth 428 0.21 (0.09) 61 0.25 (0.10) 489 0.22 (0.09)
Maximum cup depth 428 0.57 (0.20) 61 0.63 (0.21) 489 0.58 (0.20)
Cup shape measurement 428 −0.17 (0.07) 61 −0.15 (0.07) 489 −0.17 (0.07)
HVC 428 0.39 (0.09) 61 0.39 (0.09) 489 0.39 (0.09)
RNFL thickness 428 0.24 (0.06) 61 0.23 (0.07) 489 0.24 (0.06)
RNFL CSA 428 1.22 (0.33) 61 1.14 (0.33) 489 1.21 (0.33)
Reference height 428 0.30 (0.09) 61 0.30 (0.09) 489 0.30 (0.09)
SD 428 17.89 (7.14) 61 18.79 (7.20) 489 18.00 (7.14)
RB formula 428 1.29 (0.84) 61 1.15 (0.83) 489 1.27 (0.84)

CCT = central corneal thickness; C/D = cup-to-disc; CPSD = corrected pattern standard deviation; CSA = cross-sectional area; HVC = height variation contour; IOP = intraocular pressure; MD = mean deviation; OAG = open-angle glaucoma; PSD = pattern standard deviation; RB = Reinhard Burk; RNFL = retinal nerve fiber layer; SD = standard deviation.


The multivariate analysis of the baseline predictive factors previously reported by the EGPS in this subset of the original population shows that the HRs (95% CI) for age, IOP, CCT, vertical C/D ratio, and PSD are 1.52 (1.05–2.19), 1.10 (0.93–1.30), 1.71 (1.21–2.41), 1.88 (1.38–2.58), and 1.53 (0.92–2.56), respectively. Univariate HRs with 95% CIs are reported for each putative HRT predictive factor for the development of OAG in Table 3 . In univariate analyses, baseline HRT parameters significantly predictive of the development of OAG were rim area, cup area, rim volume, C/D area ratio, C/D linear ratio, cup depth, maximum cup depth, cup shape measure, FSM function outside normal limits, and MRA result outside normal limits.



Table 3

Univariate Hazard Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals for the Development of Open-Angle Glaucoma (Average of the Eyes)
















































































HRT Parameter HR (95% CI) P
Disc area (per 0.4 mm 2 greater) 0.95 (0.75–1.21) .70
Cup area (per 0.3 mm 2 greater) 1.12 (1.00–1.25) .057
Rim area (per 0.2 mm 2 greater) 0.75 (0.62–0.90) .002
Cup volume (per 0.1 mm 2 greater) 1.16 (1.00–1.35) .045
Rim volume (per 0.1 mm 3 greater) 0.79 (0.65–0.96) .016
C/D area (per 0.1 greater) 1.29 (1.09–1.53) .003
C/D linear (per 0.1 greater) 1.28 (1.08–1.52) .005
Cup depth (per 0.1 mm greater) 1.46 (1.14–1.88) .003
Max cup depth (per 0.1 mm greater) 1.14 (1.01–1.30) .042
Cup shape measure (per 0.1 greater) 1.75 (1.19–2.57) .004
HVC (per 0.1 greater) 0.97 (0.73–1.28) .82
RNFL thickness (per 0.1 greater) 0.73 (0.49–1.09) .12
RNFL CSA (per 0.3 mm 2 greater) 0.94 (0.86–1.01) .10
Reference height (per 0.1 mm greater) 1.05 (0.80–1.40) .70
RB outside normal limits 0.98 (0.95–1.40) .26
FSM outside normal limits 2.44 (1.47–4.06) .001
GPS global outside normal limits 1.44 (0.78–2.66) .24
MRA result outside normal limits 2.29 (1.19–4.40) .013

C/D = cup-to-disc; CI = confidence interval; CSA = cross-sectional area; FSM = Frederick Mikelberg discriminant function; GPS = Glaucoma Probability Score; HR = hazard ratio; HRT = Heidelberg Retina Tomograph; HVC = height variation contour; MRA = Moorfields regression analysis; OAG = open-angle glaucoma; RB = Reinhard Burk discriminant function; RNFL = retinal nerve fiber layer.


One multivariate model was then run for each single HRT parameter to test the independent relationship of each HRT parameter with OAG (for a total of 11 models). Factors significantly predictive of the development of OAG in the multivariate model (without HRT disc area) included rim area, rim volume, C/D area ratio, C/D linear ratio, cup depth, cup shape measure, and FSM function outside normal limits. In this model, older age, higher IOP, and thinner CCT were also significantly predictive of the development of OAG ( Table 4 ).



Table 4

Multivariate Hazard Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals for the Development of Open-Angle Glaucoma (Average of the Eyes), Including the Model Age, Baseline Intraocular Pressure, Central Corneal Thickness, and Pattern Standard Deviation








































































HRT Parameter HR (95% CI) P
Cup area (per 0.3 mm 2 greater) 1.11 (0.98–1.25) .095
Rim area (per 0.2 mm 2 greater) 0.78 (0.63–0.95) .014
Cup volume (per 0.1 mm 2 greater) 1.16 (0.99–1.36) .07
Rim volume (per 0.1 mm 3 greater) 0.80 (0.65–0.99) .041
C/D area (per 0.1 greater) 1.25 (1.04–1.49) .015
C/D linear (per 0.1 greater) 1.26 (1.05–1.61) .013
Cup depth (per 0.1 mm greater) 1.46 (1.11–1.93) .007
Maximum cup depth (per 0.1 mm greater) 1.15 (1.00–1.32) .052
Cup shape measure (per 0.1 greater) 1.65 (1.08–2.52) .009
FSM outside normal limits 2.40 (1.40–4.09) .001
GPS global outside normal limits 0.93 (0.48–1.80) .82
MRA result outside normal limits 1.75 (0.87–3.51) .11
Age (per 10 y older) 1.41–1.58 <.05
Baseline IOP (per 1 mm Hg higher) 1.18–1.22 <.05
CCT (per 40 μm thinner) 1.51–1.59 <.05
PSD (per 0.2 dB greater) 1.04–1.19 >.05

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Jan 7, 2017 | Posted by in OPHTHALMOLOGY | Comments Off on Predictive Value of Heidelberg Retina Tomograph Parameters for the Development of Glaucoma in the European Glaucoma Prevention Study

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