Ancillary PanoMap OCT shows the progression of glaucomatous papillomacular bundle defect with disc haemorrhage on the fovea-disc axis.

Background/aims: To identify the spatial relationship between disc haemorrhage (DH) on the fovea-disc axis and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) defect in the papillomacular bundle (PMB) using ancillary PanoMap optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: We investigated the presence and progression of spatially corresponding PMB defects in glaucomatous eyes with temporally located DH on the fovea-disc axis (FoDi-DH). We identified PMB defects using ancillary PanoMap OCT with guided progression analysis, in addition to red-free photographs.

Results: We studied 36 eyes of 35 glaucoma patients with FoDi-DH, pre-existing PMB defects were observed in 18 eyes (50.0%) at the time and location of the initial FoDi-DH occurrence, 14 (38.9%) of which progressed during the follow-up period. New development of PMB defects occurred in 15 (41.7%) of 18 eyes without pre-existing PMB defects. Overall, FoDi-DH was associated with PMB defects in 33 (91.7%) eyes at locations spatially overlapping the PMB defect. Red-free photography and OCT were complementary in detecting PMB defects and progression. Among 47 cases, 20 were concordant, while 10 and 17 were detected only in photography and OCT, respectively. The central visual field defect increased significantly throughout the follow-up period (p=0.006).

Conclusion: Most FoDi-DH cases were related to the presence and progression of glaucomatous PMB defects at locations spatially overlapping the defect. OCT helped clarify changes in PMB defects detected by red-free photograph and the detection of photo-negative PMB defects as well. Similar to inferotemporal and superotemporal-direction DH, temporal DH on the PMB may be an indicator of ongoing RNFL damage that deserves close attention.