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The feasibility of short automated static perimetry in children
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA.
Insights
Short automated static perimetry is feasible in children aged 6-12. Testing accuracy improved with age, with reliable results in children over 7 years old, making it a promising tool for pediatric vision evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
Background:
- Visual field testing is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring various ocular conditions.
- Traditional perimetry methods can be challenging for pediatric patients due to time and cooperation demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the feasibility of short automated static perimetry using tendency-oriented perimetry (TOP) in children.
- To evaluate the reliability and accuracy of this method in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A prospective observational case series involving 50 normal children aged 6-12 years.
- Testing was conducted using the Octopus TOP-32 program on an automated perimeter in a standard clinical setting.
- Each eye was tested twice, with outcomes including mean sensitivity, defect, variance, test duration, and specificity.
Main Results:
- All participants successfully completed the automated static perimetry tests.
- The mean duration per test was approximately 2.5 minutes, with a total session time of around 26 minutes.
- Test specificity improved with age, indicating greater accuracy in older children.
Conclusions:
- Short automated static perimetry with TOP programs is feasible and can be successfully performed in children aged 6-12.
- Age is a significant predictor of test performance, with optimal reliability observed in children over 7 years old.
- This method shows promise as a tool for evaluating peripheral vision in pediatric patients, though younger children may require more attention to maturity and concentration levels.
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of short automated static perimetry using tendency-oriented perimetry in the pediatric population.
Design:
Prospective observational case series.
Participants:
Fifty normal children age 6 through 12 years.
Testing:
Subjects underwent testing with the Octopus TOP-32 program on the Octopus 1-2-3 automated perimeter. Testing was performed in a typical clinical setting without adaptations to the perimeter, prolonged training, or the use of custom seating. Each eye was tested twice.
Main Outcome Measures:
Ability to complete automated static perimetry tests with both eyes. Mean sensitivity, mean defect, and loss of variance; gray scale and numeric representations of the field; duration of each test and of the entire session; subjective assessment of each test as normal or abnormal; calculation of test specificity. Comparisons by age and test number were performed.
Results:
All subjects successfully completed all four tests. The mean duration for each test was 2:30+/- 0.23 minutes. The average time for the whole session, including training, testing both eyes twice, and rest periods, was 25.8+/-4.87 minutes. Improvement in the specificity of the test (fewer abnormal tests in normal children) occurred in direct relation to subject age (R = 0.5).
Conclusions:
Automated static perimetry using short, tendency-oriented programs can be successfully performed in normal children age 6 through 12 years in a typical clinical setting. Age was the best predictor of the mean sensitivity, reproducibility, and accuracy of the test, with the most reliable results obtained after 7 years of age. In children 6 to 7 years old, significant interindividual variability was present, and testing success was more dependent on the child's maturity and ability to concentrate. Short automated perimetry seems to be a promising tool for the evaluation of peripheral vision in pediatric patients.