New technologies may help in the early detection of glaucoma

PARIS — New functional and structural tests can allow an earlier and more accurate diagnosis of glaucoma, helping prevent the silent progression of undetected glaucomatous damage, according to a specialist speaking here at the French Society of Ophthalmology annual meeting.

"We can now go beyond the limitations of standard automated perimetry and use more sensitive, sophisticated technologies," said E. Bluwol, MD, of the Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris.

Dr. Bluwol and colleagues conducted a prospective study including 84 patients with ocular hypertension and 51 patients with preperimetric glaucoma. In all cases, investigators performed Humphrey Matrix frequency doubling technology perimetry (Carl Zeiss Meditec), blue-yellow perimetry and retinal nerve fibers analysis with GDx VCC scanning laser perimetry (Carl Zeiss Meditec).

"Blue-yellow perimetry and FDT Matrix allowed an early differentiation between ocular hypertension and preperimetric glaucoma. The association with GDx VCC increased their diagnostic sensitivity. On the other hand, the association of FDT Matrix and GDx seemed to be the most effective in the early diagnosis of ocular hypertension," Dr. Bluwol said.

Measuring corneal hysteresis using the Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer can also provide useful diagnostic data for the early detection of glaucoma, according to a study presented by N. Fayol, MD, of the Fondation Rothschild, Paris.

"We have compared the corneal hysteresis and corneal pachymetry data of 192 normal eyes, 43 ocular hypertension eyes and 119 glaucoma eyes," he said. "We have found that corneal hysteresis was significantly different in the three groups. It was lower in the eyes with ocular hypertension and even [lower] in glaucomatous eyes than in normal eyes. Pachymetry data were not equally significant in discriminating between the three groups."