Appearance of the optic dik and retinal nerve fiber layer in atherocleroi and arterial hypertenion: an experimental tudy in rheu monkey

PURPOE: To evaluate change in the appearance of the optic nerve head and retinal nerve fiber layer of rheu monkey with chronic arterial hypertenion and atherocleroi. METHOD: Color tereocopic fundu photograph of 25 eye of 25 rheu monkey (mean age ± D of 20.4 ± 1.87 year) with chronic experimental ytemic arterial hypertenion and atherocleroi (for a mean duration of 89.1 ± 39.1 month and 104.6 ± 62.2 month, repectively) were morphometrically evaluated. They were compared with color tereocopic fundu photograph of 17 eye of 17 normal monkey (mean age ± D of 19.76 ± 2.19 year) without any detectable ytemic or ocular dieae. There wa no ignificant difference in age between the two tudy group (P = .22). REULT: In the atheroclerotic-arterial hypertenive group, viibility of the retinal nerve fiber layer wa ignificantly (35.691 ± 5.95 unit v 28.72 ± 9.18 unit, P = .009) le and frequency of localized retinal nerve fiber layer defect wa ignificantly (ix of 25 or 24% v zero of 17 or 0%, P = .01) more than in the normal control group. The two group did not differ ignificantly in ize of the neuroretinal rim (P = .66), hape of the neuroretinal rim (P > .15), ize of alpha (P > .44) and beta (P > .65) zone of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy, or regional ditribution of alpha and beta zone (P > .40). CONCLUION: Chronic experimental arterial hypertenion and atherocleroi do not markedly change the ize and hape of the neuroretinal rim or parapapillary atrophy; however, they do lead to reduced viibility of the retinal nerve fiber layer, with localized retinal nerve fiber layer defect indicating optic nerve damage. Thu, unlike glaucomatou optic neuropathy, experimental arterial hypertenion and atherocleroi are not aociated with a ignificant change in the parapapillary atrophy or the neuroretinal rim of the optic dik depite the lo of nerve fiber.