Menstrual cycle-dependent differences between right and left visual hemifields in perimetry

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience
• Human Physiology

Background:

• Visual field testing is crucial for diagnosing neurological and ocular conditions.
• The menstrual cycle involves hormonal fluctuations that can potentially influence physiological functions.
• Understanding how these hormonal changes affect visual perception is important for accurate diagnostic interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of the menstrual cycle phases (follicular and luteal) on visual hemifield sensitivity.
• To determine if gender influences visual hemifield performance during different menstrual cycle phases.
• To compare the effects of standard achromatic perimetry (SAP) and short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) under these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 42 healthy women and 37 men for visual field testing.
• Conducted complete ocular examinations and visual field analysis using SAP and SWAP.
• Performed tests during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in female participants.

Main Results:

• No significant interhemifield differences were observed with SAP in either gender or any menstrual cycle phase.
• Women exhibited significantly reduced left hemifield sensitivity compared to the right hemifield during the luteal phase when using SWAP.
• No significant interhemifield differences were found with SWAP in the follicular phase or in male subjects.

Conclusions:

• Menstrual cycle hormonal fluctuations, specifically in the luteal phase, can significantly alter visual field sensitivity as measured by SWAP.
• SWAP results may be influenced by the menstrual cycle, potentially leading to misinterpretation of hemifield defects.
• SAP is a more reliable method for detecting neurological defects as it is not affected by menstrual cycle variations.