Peripapillary fundus perimetry in eyes with glaucoma

To evaluate, with fundus perimetry, the peripapillary differential light threshold (DLT) in eyes with glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT), and compare it with peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness.

35 glaucomatous, 29 OHT and 24 control eyes were included. Peripapillary DLT at 1 degrees from the optic nerve head was quantified with fundus perimetry; peripapillary RNFL thickness was measured over the same area by optical coherence tomography.

Mean (SD) peripapillary DLT was 19.2 (1.7), 17.6 (4.2) and 10.1 (6.9) dB in control, OHT and glaucomatous eyes, respectively (p<0.001). Mean (SD) RNFL thickness was 98.4 (35.3), 83.9 (35.1) and 55.8 (28.2) microm, respectively (p<0.001). Mean peripapillary DLT showed higher sensitivity and specificity in differentiating the three groups compared with RNFL thickness.

Progressive, significant reduction of peripapillary DLT was documented in OHT and glaucomatous eyes compared with controls (p<0.001). DLT reduction parallels RNFL reduction.