Abstract
Parapapillary atrophy has been reported to occur in glaucoma eyes. Seeking the microscopical equivalent, we evaluated histomorphometrically serial sections of 21 human eyes enucleated due to secondary angle-closure glaucoma and 28 nonglaucomatous eyes with malignant choroidal melanoma. In the parapapillary region two zones were differentiated: in zone “B” adjacent to the optic disc, Bruch's membrane was denuded of retinal pigment epithelium cells; zone “A” peripheral to zone “B” showed pigment irregularities in the retinal pigment epithelium. Both zones “B” and “A” were significantly larger and zone B occurred more frequently in glaucomatous eyes than in the control group. Additionally, the outer and inner retinal layers and the parapapillary retina as a whole were significantly thinner in the glaucoma eyes than in the control eyes. Photoreceptors were completely lost or markedly decreased in number in zone “B” The findings may indicate that zones “B” and “A” represent the histological correlate of the glaucomatous parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Airaksinen PJ, Drance SM (1985) Neuroretinal rim area and retinal nerve fiber layer in glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 103:203–204
Airaksinen PJ, Juvala PA, Tuulonen A, Alanko AI, Valkonen R, Tuohino A (1987) Change of peripapillary atrophy in glaucoma. In: Krieglstein GK (ed) Glaucoma update III. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 97–102
Airaksinen PJ, Tuulonen A, Alanko H (1991) Prediction of glaucomatous damage development in patients with ocular hypertension. A ten year follow-up study. In: Krieglstein GK (ed) Glaucoma update IV. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 183–186
Anderson DR (1983) Correlation of the peripapillary damage with the disc anatomy and field abnormalities in glaucoma. Documenta Ophthalmol Proc Series 35:1–10
Anderson DR (1987) Relationship of peripapillary haloes and crescents to glaucomatous cupping. In: Krieglstein GK (ed) Glaucoma update III. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 103–105
Buns DR, Anderson DR (1989) Peripapillary crescents and halos in normal-tension glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Ophthalmology 96:16–19
Caprioli J (1990) The contour of the juxtapapillary nerve fiber layer in glaucoma. Ophthalmology 97:358–366
Caprioli J, Spaeth GL (1985) Comparison of the optic nerve head in high- and low-tension glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 103:1145–1149
Caprioli J, Klingbeil U, Sears M, Pope B (1986) Reproducibility of optic disc measurements with computerized analysis of stereoscopic video images. Arch Ophthalmol 104:1035–1039
Cornsweet TN, Hersh S, Humphries JC, Beesmer RJ, Cornsweet DW (1983) Quantification of shape and colour of the optic nerve head. In: Breinin GM, Siegel IM (eds) Advances in diagnostic visual optics. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 141–149
Elschnig A (1901) Der normale Sehnerveneintritt des menschlichen Auges. Denkschrift der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Math.-naturwiss. Classe, Wien 70:219–303
Elschnig A (1928) Glaukom. In: Henke-Lubarsch (ed) HenkeLubarschs Handbuch der speziellen pathologischen Anatomie und Histologie, vol XI. Springer, Berlin, p 873
Fantes FE, Anderson DR (1989) Clinical histologic correlation of human peripapillary anatomy. Ophthalmology 96:20–25
Fernández MC, Jonas JB, Naumann GOH (1990) Parapapilläre chorioretinale Atrophie in Augen mit flacher glaukomatöser Papillenexkavation. Fortschr Ophthalmol 87:457–460
Hayreh SS (1969) Blood supply of the optic nerve head and its role in optic atrophy, glaucoma and oedema of the optic disc. Br J Ophthalmol 53:721–748
Hayreh SS (1972) Optic disc changes in glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol 56:175–185
Heijl A, Samander C (1985) Peripapillary atrophy and glaucomatous visual field defects. Doc Ophthalmol Proc Ser 42:403–407
Hoyt WF, Frisén L, Newman NM (1973) Funduscopy of nerve fiber layer defects in glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol 12:814–829
Jonas JB (1989) Biomorphometrie des Nervus opticus. Enke, Stuttgart
Jonas JB, Naumann GOH (1989) Parapapillary chorio-retinal atrophy in normal and glaucoma eyes. II. Correlations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:919–926
Jonas JB, Nguyen NX, Naumann GOH (1989) Die retinale Nervenfaserschicht in Normal- und Glaukomaugen. II. Korrelationen. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 195:308–314
Jonas JB, Nhung XN, Gusek GC, Naumann GOH (1989) The parapapillary chorio-retinal atrophy in normal and glaucoma eyes. I. Morphometric data. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 30:908–918
Kasner O, Feuer WJ, Anderson DR (1989) Possibly reduced prevalence of peripapillary crescents in ocular hypertension. Can J Ophthalmol 24:211–215
Laatikainen L (1981) Fluorescein angiographic studies of the peripapillary and perilimbal regions in simple, capsular and low-tension glaucoma. Acta Ophthalmol [Suppl] 111
Naumann GOH (1980) Glaukome and Hypotonie-Syndrome (Pathologic des abnormen intraokularen Druckes). In: Naumann GOH (ed) Pathologie des Auges. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 792–793
Nevarez J, Rockwood EJ, Anderson DR (1988) The configuration of peripapillary tissue in unilateral glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 106:901–903
Primrose J (1971) Early signs of the glaucomatous disc. Br J Ophthalmol 55:820–825
Primrose J (1971) The incidence of the peripapillary halo glaucomatosus. Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 89:585–588
Primrose J (1977) Peripapillary changes in glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 83:930–931
Raitta C, Sarmela T (1970) Fluorescein angiography of the optic disc and the peripapillary area in chronic glaucoma. Acta Ophthalmol 48:303–308
Rockwood EJ, Anderson DR (1988) Acquired peripapillary changes and progression in glaucoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 226:510–515
Stürmer J, Schroedel C, Rappl W (1990) Low-backgroundbrightness, static SLO fundus-perimetry. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci Suppl 31:504
Thiel R (1931) Glaukom. In: Schieck F, Brückner A (eds) Kurzes Handbuch der Ophthalmologic, vol IV. Springer, Berlin, pp 725–726, 758
Wilensky JT, Kolker AE (1976) Peripapillary changes in glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 81:341–345
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Offprint requests to: J. Jonas
Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG Nan 55/61/Jo, and Förderverein Augenheilkunde Erlangen
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jonas, J.B., Königsreuther, K.A. & Naumann, G.O.H. Optic disc histomorphometry in normal eyes and eyes with secondary angle-closure glaucoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 230, 134–139 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164651
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164651