Correlation between static automated and scanning laser entoptic perimetry in normal subjects and glaucoma patients.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness of scanning laser entoptic perimetry with static automated perimetry as a noninvasive instrument for screening for glaucomatous damage in visually asymptomatic subjects within the central 60 degrees (diameter) of vision.

DESIGN

A masked cross-sectional study comparing entoptic perimetry to achromatic threshold perimetry.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-three subjects and controls from the Sharp Rees-Stealy Hospital and the Shiley Eye Center at the University of California, San Diego.

TESTING: Virtual reality-based entoptic perimetry was compared with achromatic threshold perimetry.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For each testing session, we compared the presence of a disturbance in the entoptic perimetry stimulus with the presence of defects in visual function as measured by Humphrey automated visual field perimetry.

RESULTS

Scanning laser entoptic perimetry reasonably estimates the overall visual field loss for moderate-to-severe scotomas as measured by the pattern deviation in standard visual field perimetry. Scanning laser entoptic perimetry has a sensitivity from 27% to 90% and a specificity from 50% to 100% for screening moderate-to-severe visual field defects caused by glaucoma within the central 60 degrees diameter of vision.

CONCLUSIONS

Scanning laser entoptic perimetry may be an effective and inexpensive screening test in hospitals and community clinics for diagnosing visual field loss caused by glaucoma.