Objective To study prospectively the morphological relations among hemorrhage of optic disc, defect of retinal nerve fiber layer, and peripapillary atrophy in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Methods Qualitative and quantitative methods were applied to evaluate the relations among hemorrhage of optic disc, defect of retinal nerve fiber layer, and peripapillary atrophy by using stereo ocular fundus photography and computer analyzer systems. Results In 37 patients (42 eyes) in NTG hemorrhage group, 50 hemorrhagic spots at optic disc was found, including coloboma of retinal nerve fiber layer in 35 eyes (83.3%)(35/42). In 35 patients (40 eyes) in non-hemorrahge group, partial coloboma of retinal nerve fiber layer was found in 21 eyes (52.5%)(21/40). The difference of incidence of coloboma of retinal nerve fiber layer between the two groups was not significant (chi;2=1.403, P=0.236). The incidence of atrophic arc in hemorrhage group differed much from which in non-hemorrhage group (chi;2=7.008, P=0.008). The area of atrophic arc at beta;section in hemorrhage group ［(2.05plusmn;0.88)mm2］ was significantly different from which in non-hemorrhage group［(1.42plusmn;0.53)mm2］(t=-2.618, P=0.012). In the follow-up period, the difference of incidence of disc-rim loss between hemorrhage and non-hemorrhage group was significant, (chi;2=5.802, P=0.016); while the difference of the incidence of visual field defect between the two groups was not. Conclusion In eyes with NTG, hemorrhage of optic disc, coloboma of retinal nerve fiber layer and atrophic arc are closely related. More disc-rim loss and changes of atrophic-arc area in hemorrhage group in the follow-up period suggests that hemorrhage of optic disc is the risk factor of development of NTG. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2006, 22: 232-235)