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PrecisIn this prospective cohort study, disc hemorrhages were associated with more severe central damage on 24-2 and 10-2 visual fields (VFs), and faster progression globally on 24-2 VFs and centrally on 10-2 VFs.PurposeTo study the relationship between disc hemorrhage (DH) and the presence and progression of glaucomatous central VF damage.MethodsCross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed on data from the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES) cohort. Two masked investigators reviewed disc photographs for the presence and location of DH. 24-2 central VF damage was based on the number of test locations within the central 10 degrees of the 24-2 field pattern deviation and their mean total deviation (MTD). 10-2 central VF damage was based on pattern deviation and MTD. Main outcome measures were the association between DH and presence of central VF damage and between DH and worsening of VF.ResultsDH was detected in 21 of 335 eyes (6.2%). In the cross-sectional analysis, DH was significantly associated with more severe central damage on 24-2 [incidence rate ratio=1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02-2.12; P=0.035] and 10-2 VFs (incidence rate ratio=1.81; 95% CI=1.26-2.60; P=0.001). In the longitudinal analysis, DH eyes progressed faster than non-DH eyes based on 24-2 global MTD rates (difference in slopes, β=-0.06; 95% CI=-0.11 to -0.01; P=0.009) and 10-2 MTD rates (β=-0.10; 95% CI=-0.14 to -0.06; P< 0.001), but not 24-2 central MTD rates (β=-0.02; 95% CI=-0.078 to 0.026; P=0.338).ConclusionDH was associated with the presence and progression of central VF defects. DH identification should prompt intensive central VF monitoring and surveillance with 10-2 fields to detect progression.

Importanceβ-zone parapapillary atrophy (βPPA) has been reported as a risk factor for glaucoma onset and progression. Previous studies have shown that the prevalence of βPPA differs between individuals of African descent (AD) and European descent (ED).ObjectiveTo test whether the association between the presence and progression of βPPA vs visual field progression of glaucoma differs between these 2 ancestry groups.Design, setting, and participantsIn a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal cohort study, 634 individuals (1090 eyes) enrolled in the African Descent and Evaluation Study (ADAGES) with a diagnosis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) or ocular hypertension (OHT) and at least 2 disc stereophotographs were included. Two graders masked to clinical and ancestry data reviewed and graded the baseline and last disc stereophotographs for the presence of βPPA at baseline and βPPA progression (development or enlargement). Mixed-effects linear models were tested with visual field mean deviation as a dependent variable and time (alone and with interaction terms) as independent variables. ADAGES enrollment began in January 2003 and ended in July 2006; follow-up ended in 2016.ExposuresDisc stereophotographs.Main outcomes and measuresProgression of βPPA in AD and ED individuals.ResultsIn 634 patients, a total of 814 eyes of AD (395 eyes) and ED (419) patients with GON and 276 eyes of AD (106) and ED (170) patients with OHT who were enrolled in ADAGES were analyzed. There were 336 (53.0%) women in the study; mean (SD) age was 61.9 (12.7) years. In the OHT group, the association between βPPA at baseline and visual field progression was not significantly different between AD and ED eyes (β = 0.071; 95% CI, -0.016 to 0.158; P = .11), nor was the association between βPPA progression and visual field progression (β = 0.020; 95% CI, -0.465 to 0.506; P = .93). In the GON group, ED eyes with baseline βPPA progressed faster than did AD eyes with baseline βPPA (β = -0.124; 95% CI, -0.241 to -0.007; P = .04), although the association between βPPA progression and visual field progression did not differ significantly between race groups (β = -0.101; 95% CI, -0.323 to 0.119; P = .37).Conclusions and relevanceRace had a significant effect on the association between baseline βPPA and rates of visual field progression in eyes with GON. Progression of βPPA was not associated with faster visual field progression in either racial group.