Visual field loss with capillary non-perfusion in preproliferative and early proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Thirty two eyes of 19 patients with capillary non-perfusion from preproliferative and early proliferative diabetic retinopathy underwent visual field testing on the 30-2 program of the Humphrey visual field analyser. The mean defect (MD) p value was < 5% in 30 (94%) eyes and the corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD) was < 10% in 31 (97%) eyes. Areas of capillary non-perfusion demonstrated by fundal fluorescein angiography were closely associated with areas of reduced retinal sensitivity in these 31 eyes. More severe visual field defects were present in non-insulin dependent diabetics and in older patients. MD and CPSD p values of less than 0.5% and 1% respectively were found to be associated with non-insulin dependent diabetes (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively) and with the older age group (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between severity of field defects with hypertension and degree of retinopathy.