Purpose
The 30 - 60 degree automated static visual field to large perimetric stimuli has not been studied. Our aim was to determine the effect of age on the normal visual field sensitivity characteristics for stimulus locations from 30 - 60 degrees using stimulus sizes III, V, and VI.
Methods
One eye of 5 healthy participants in their 20’s and five in their 70’s was tested with 3 stimulus sizes (Goldmann sizes III, V, and VI) on two separate visits with the Humphrey Field Analyzer 60-4 Full Threshold program. The 60-4 test results were averaged from the two tests and divided into inner (30.6 to 35 deg), middle (42.4 to 45.7 deg), and outer (51.6 to 61.8 deg) zones; the average sensitivity value was calculated for each zone. The mean sensitivity of each eccentricity zone for each age group for sizes III, V, and VI was analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA.
Results
Average age of the younger group was 20.29 ± 0.69 and that of the older group was 73.30 ± 3.36. Average test times for sizes III, V, and VI were the following: size III, 12.67 minutes; size V, 12.20 minutes; size VI, 11.36 minutes. Overall mean sensitivity for size III for the younger group was 5.21 ± 0.95 dB greater than the older group: It was 3.12 ± 0.35 dB greater for size V and 2.58 ± 0.20 greater for size VI with all comparisons significant p < 0.001. The mean sensitivities by eccentricity according to age groups are shown in figures 1 and 2. Differences in the mean values within the younger group between all size comparisons were statistically significant (p = <0.001) for all comparisons, including individual comparisons between each of the inner, middle, and outer zones. Similar comparisons for the older group were also significant (p = <0.001).
Conclusions
We found a decrease in visual field sensitivity with both age and eccentricity. The effect is present across all stimulus sizes. Funding: Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation R&D Merit Review Grant
Keywords: 522 eye movements •
642 perimetry •
758 visual fields