A visual field screening protocol for glaucoma.

Abstract

In this prospective evaluation of the reliability and efficiency of an optimized visual field screening protocol for glaucoma, we tested 145 eyes (73 patients) with increased intraocular pressures to determine the location of early glaucomatous visual field defects. The field examination, which was used as a control, and protocol testing were performed on a manual Goldmann perimeter using kinetic and suprathreshold static techniques, respectively. Of the 145 eyes tested, kinetic Goldmann perimetry detected 43 eyes with glaucomatous defects. The screening protocol detected 39 defective eyes. There were four false-negative tests and one false-positive test. The false-negative rate of just under 10% was within the range predicted from earlier data. The computer-generated optimal protocols performed as predicted and provided an excellent screening technique for the detection of early glaucomatous visual field defects.