Abstract
Purpose :
Pupil dilation is often performed before patients undergo dark adapted perimetry testing. We tested the hypothesis that the mean of the average sensitivity differs based on dilation status in individuals without retinal pathology.
Methods :
15 healthy adults (9 female) ages 23-63 without retinal pathology underwent a 45-minute dark adaptation period followed by sequential undilated and dilated two color perimetry testing of the left eye. 14 (8 female) ages 23-63 of these adults also underwent repeat undilated testing using the same protocol on a separate day to evaluate intervisit variability. A modified Octopus 900 perimeter utilizing size III Goldman targets with a 500nm (blue) or 650nm (red) filter were used. The mean differences in average sensitivity were compared using two-sided paired t-tests.
Results :
The average sensitivity to the red stimulus was 26.68dB (SD: 2.43dB) under undilated conditions and 27.31dB (SD: 1.79dB) under dilated conditions. The mean difference in the average sensitivity between the undilated and dilated conditions using the red stimulus was -0.63dB (SD: 1.40dB; 95% CI: [-1.40dB, 0.14dB]; p = 0.102). The average sensitivity to the blue stimulus was 41.84dB (0.87dB) for the undilated condition and 41.75dB (SD: 1.00) for the dilated condition. The mean difference in the average sensitivity between the undilated and dilated conditions using the blue stimulus was 0.09dB (SD: 0.57dB; 95% CI: [-0.23dB, 0.40dB]; p = 0.557). The mean difference in the average sensitivity between the initial and subsequent undilated test using the red stimulus and blue stimulus was -0.63dB (SD: 1.01dB; 95%CI: [-1.22db, -0.05dB]; p = 0.036) and -0.14dB (SD: 0.66dB; 95%CI: [-0.52dB, 0.24dB]; p = 0.451) respectively.
Conclusions :
These findings show no statistically significant difference in the mean of the average sensitivity to red or blue stimuli under scotopic conditions based on dilation status. The intervisit variability was similar to that observed between the same day undilated and dilated conditions. Finally, the absolute value of the 95%CIs for all mean differences was <1.5dB were suggesting that dilation may not have a clinically meaningful effect on the average sensitivity to red or blue stimuli under scotopic conditions in patients without retinal pathology.
This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.