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Normal values for Octopus tendency oriented perimetry in children 7 through 13 years old
Sandra M Brown1, Jay C Bradley, Matthias J Monhart
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas TX 79430, USA. sandra.brown@ttuhsc.edu
Insights
This study established normal visual field values for children aged 7-13 using the Octopus 301 perimeter. Age-appropriate comparison values are crucial for accurate pediatric eye exams, accounting for learning and fatigue effects.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Visual Field Testing
Background:
- Establishing normative data for visual field testing in children is essential for detecting early signs of visual impairment.
- Previous studies have lacked comprehensive age-specific data for pediatric populations using specific perimetric devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine age-dependent normative values for mean sensitivity, mean deviation, and loss variance in children aged 6-13 years.
- To evaluate the suitability of the Octopus 301 perimeter with the Tendency Oriented Perimetry 32 (TOP-32) program for pediatric visual field assessment.
Main Methods:
- Recruited healthy children aged 6-13 years with normal visual acuity and stereopsis.
- Utilized the Octopus 301 perimeter and TOP-32 program, testing each eye twice per session.
- Averaged results from four tests per subject for statistical analysis of mean sensitivity, mean deviation, and loss variance.
Main Results:
- Data from 119 children aged 7-13 years were analyzed after excluding 6-year-olds due to high variability.
- Average test duration was 2.9 minutes; average mean sensitivity was 28.7 dB.
- No significant age-dependent slope was found for mean sensitivity (p=0.83); high false positive rates (mean 26%) were observed.
Conclusions:
- The programmed normal mean sensitivity value for 20-year-olds (29.0 dB) is appropriate for comparison in children aged 7-13 years.
- Learning and fatigue effects are apparent during sequential testing.
- High false positive rates are inherent in pediatric testing; overencouragement should be avoided.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to determine age-dependent values for mean sensitivity, mean deviation, and loss variance for normal children age 6 through 13 years, using the Octopus 301 perimeter and the Tendency Oriented Perimetry 32 (TOP-32) program.
Methods:
Healthy children from 6 through 13 years of age with a visual acuity of 20/20 OU and at least 60 arc seconds of stereopsis were recruited. They were tested on the Octopus 301 perimeter using the TOP-32 program, and each eye was tested twice during one session. Results for all four tests were averaged for each subject, and the average was used for statistical analysis. The main outcome measures were mean sensitivity, mean deviation, and loss variance by age. The test duration, learning and fatigue effects, and the influence of false positive responses on the average mean sensitivity were also analyzed.
Results:
There were 142 subjects tested. Six-year-old children showed high intersubject variability and were excluded (N=23). The average age of the remaining 7- to 13-year-old cohort (N=119) was 9.8 +/- 1.7 years. The average test duration was 2.9 +/- 0.3 min. The average mean sensitivity was 28.7 +/- 1.9 dB. The mean sensitivities for tests 1 through 4 were 28.14, 28.63, 28.96, and 28.92 dB, respectively. The average mean deviation was 0.4 +/- 1.9 dB. The slope of the regression line for mean sensitivity vs age was -0.018 +/- 0.165 dB/year, which was not significantly different from zero (two-tailed t test, p=0.83). The false positive catch trial rate was high (mean 26%) and was independent of age. When the data from subjects who had more than two false positive catch trial responses on any one test were eliminated, the mean sensitivity decreased to 28.3 +/- 1.9 dB.
Conclusions:
When testing patients age 7 through 13 years on the Octopus 301 perimeter using the TOP-32 program, comparison against the programmed normal mean sensitivity value for 20-year-old subjects (29.0 dB) is appropriate. During a sequence of four tests, both learning and fatigue effects are evident. The false positive response rate is naturally high regardless of age, and children should not be overencouraged to respond during testing.
