Visual Field Improvement by Standardized Automated Perimetry Following Panmacular Subthreshold Diode Micropulse Laser (SDM) in Open-Angle Glaucoma and Other Optic Atrophies.

Purpose: To assess the effect of subthreshold diode micropulse laser (SDM) on visual fields (VF) by standardized automated perimetry (SAP) in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and other non-glaucomatous optic atrophies (OA). Methods: The electronic medical records in a vitreoretinal practice were searched to identify the cohort of eyes with OAG and OA that underwent SAP before and after the initial SDM meeting study inclusion and exclusion criteria. Recorded data included mean deviation (MD), mean sensitivity (MS), and pattern standard deviation (PSD) before and after treatment. Results: A total of 55 eyes of 29 patients, 17 female, aged 62-89 years (avg. 76), with 48 eyes having OAG and 7 with OA, were included in the study. All SAP tests were performed the same day prior to the first SDM treatment, and the postop SAP within one month post-treatment. There were three groups: 36 total treated eyes, 14 treated simultaneously in both eyes prior to repeat SAP, and 22 treated in one eye prior to repeat SAP, along with 19 untreated fellow eye controls. Following SDM, MD and MS were significantly improved in all treated eyes and unilaterally treated eyes (p range 1.0 × 10-4 to 7.02 × 10-6). Untreated fellow eyes were also significantly improved (p = 0.03 for both MD and MS), but the MD and MS improvements in the treated eyes were significantly greater than untreated fellow eyes (p = 0.016 for both MD and MS). Conclusions: Panmacular SDM significantly improved VF by SAP in eyes with OAG and OA. This finding has important implications for management in both conditions.