· Purpose: To investigate the correlation between the deterioration in optic disc cupping during the chronic elevation of
intraocular pressure (IOP) and the reversal of cupping during a subsequent reduction in IOP in experimental glaucoma. · Methods:
We examined changes in the vertical and horizontal cup to disc ratios, the rim area to disc area ratio, and the cup volume
to disc area ratio in 11 monkey eyes with laser-induced glaucoma using computerized stereo-image analysis. Correlations between
changes in disc parameters during a spontaneous IOP reduction and changes in disc parameters during a period of chronic IOP
elevation from baseline before laser exposure (baseline) to before the IOP reduction (pre-IOP reduction) and during the period
from baseline to after the reduction in IOP (post-IOP reduction) were determined by linear regression analysis. · Results:
All disc parameters improved significantly during IOP reduction and deteriorated significantly during the periods from baseline
to the pre-IOP reduction and from baseline to the post-IOP reduction. The degree of reversal in disc parameters was correlated
with the deterioration from baseline to the pre-IOP reduction and from baseline to the post-IOP reduction in the vertical
cup to disc ratio (
r=0.68,
P=0.0218 and
r=0.97,
P<0.0001, respectively), the horizontal cup to disc ratio (
r=0.57,
P=0.0649 and
r=0.98,
P<0.0001, respectively), the rim area to disc area ratio (
r=0.68,
P=0.0227 and
r=0.98,
P<0.0001, respectively), and the cup volume to disc area ratio (
r=0.67,
P=0.0256 and
r=0.88,
P=0.0004, respectively). · Conclusion. The degree of deterioration in cupping from baseline before the induction of glaucoma
may be an important determinant of the degree of cupping reversal during subsequent reductions in IOP in primate glaucoma.
Received: 23 May 1997 Revised version received: 28 October 1997 Accepted: 29 October 1997