The relationship between visual disability and visual field in patients with glaucoma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Clinical Research
• Vision Science

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
• Visual disability in glaucoma significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
• Understanding the factors contributing to visual disability is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between visual disability and remaining visual field in Japanese glaucoma patients.
• To identify specific visual field parameters and visual acuity that predict visual disability.

Main Methods:

• A prospective survey of 147 Japanese glaucoma patients was conducted.
• Visual disability was assessed using a validated questionnaire.
• Visual field was measured using Humphrey Field Analyzer program 30-2, and visual acuity was recorded.

Main Results:

• A significant correlation was found between visual disability and visual field/visual acuity measurements.
• Retinal sensitivity within 5 degrees of fixation and better eye visual acuity were primary predictors of visual disability.
• Worse eye visual acuity also contributed significantly to overall disability.

Conclusions:

• Visual disability in Japanese glaucoma patients is predominantly explained by central visual field defects and visual acuity in the better eye.
• Visual acuity in the worse eye further contributes to the overall disability.
• These findings highlight the importance of preserving central vision and visual acuity in glaucoma care.