Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate reading performance patterns (through saccades, fixation and visual field) in glaucoma patients vs. control group using the eye tracker. In addition, to determine the influence of cognitive level and contrast sensitivity.
Methods :
This is a prospective case control study including 116 patients (64 glaucoma and 52 control). Demographic, systemic and ophthalmologic information was obtained. All patients had at least 0.5 logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on the left eye. Cognition was assessed through MoCA (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and contrast sensitivity through Freiburg Visual Acuity & Contrast Test. Eye Tracker data were extracted using the Tobii Studio appurtenance software. Participants went through a reading performance test on MNRead translated and validated in Portuguese. 3 parameters were evaluated: 1. Reading duration (total time of fixation/characters), 2. Fixation (fixation/characters), 3. Mean fixation duration (total time of fixation/number of fixation).
Results :
Glaucoma group had mean age of 65.9 (±14.13) and control group, 62.30 years (±10.26) (p=0.13). 38 (73.08%) and 41 (64.06%) patients had first degree in the control and glaucoma group, respectively. BCVA in the left eye was 0.04 (±0.09) and 0.18 (±0.16) logMAR in the control and glaucoma group, respectively (p=0.00). MD of the left eye in the glaucoma group was -10.67 (±8.64) dB. MoCA score was 21.67 (±3.35) and 21.53 (±4.09) in control and glaucoma group, respectively (p=0.84). Contrast sensitivity test was 1.84 (±0.15) and 1.56 (±0.33) logCS in control and glaucoma group, respectively (p=0.00).There was a significant positive correlation among contrast and MD (p=0.001). And there was a significant positive correlation among contrast and BCVA (p=0.000). There was no correlation with MoCA and contrast (p=0,145), and MoCA and BCVA (0.681).
Conclusions :
In advanced stages glaucoma, when there's a lower MD and lower BCVA, there's also a decrease in contrast vision, which could explain, in some part, the improvement of reading speed with higher contrast slides, already shown in previous studies. Although, eye tracker data is not yet analyzed, with this study's MoCA results not statistically significant among groups, reading speed would not be influenced by participant's cognition level.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.