Does Age Influence Test-retest Variability of 10-2 Visual Fields?

Abstract

Purpose : There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of glaucoma with increased longevity worldwide. Because of the growing importance of 10-2 visual fields in glaucoma management,[1] we tested whether age is an independent factor affecting test-retest variability of 10-2 perimetry.

Methods : 45 eyes from 45 normal patients, ages ranged from 19 to 71, were included from the Macula and Glaucoma Progression Study (MAPS) if they had at least four 10-2 visual fields ±4 weeks apart and normal optic discs and normal 24-2 visual fields. [2] Based upon the 68 points of the pattern deviation plot, regional (less and more vulnerable zones)[3] and global (MD and PSD) indices were plotted against their variability (standard deviation, SD) derived from test-retest data. Linear regression models tested the relationship between age and variability before and after adjusting for baseline sensitivities.

Results : Baseline sensitivities of all 4 indices tested were significantly associated with test-retest variability (all P<0.05). In addition, peripheral 10-2 visual field locations had higher variability than central ones. We found no significant association between age and any of the tested visual field indices even after adjusting for baseline sensitivities (all P>0.10). Figs. 1 and 2 show the relationship between age and MD variability (P=0.381) and between baseline MD and MD variability (P<0.01), respectively.

Conclusions : In healthy subjects, we found no significant relationship between age and 10-2 test-retest variability. Nonetheless, variability increased as a function of sensitivity and eccentricity, consistent with results for 30-2 and 24-2 perimetry.[4] 1. Hood et al. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2013; 2. De Moraes et al. ARVO 2017; 3. Hood et al. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2012; 4. Heijl et al. Arch Ophthalmol 1987

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.