Glaucoma detection with matrix and standard achromatic perimetry.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Imaging
• Diagnostic Technology

Background:

• Matrix perimetry is an advanced frequency-doubling technology (FDT) utilizing smaller targets.
• It presents stimuli within a standard achromatic perimetry pattern.
• This study investigates its diagnostic utility compared to established methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the diagnostic performance of matrix perimetry and Swedish interactive thresholding algorithm (SITA) perimetry.
• To evaluate their ability to detect glaucoma based on structural assessments.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study included 76 eyes from healthy subjects, glaucoma suspects, and glaucoma patients.
• Participants underwent optic nerve head (ONH) photography, matrix perimetry, SITA perimetry, and optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Glaucoma diagnosis was confirmed via ONH evaluation or OCT-assessed retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness.

Main Results:

• Matrix and SITA perimetry demonstrated comparable correlations between visual field indices (MD, PSD) and structural measures (cup-to-disc ratio, OCT mean RNFL).
• The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AROC) curves for discriminating healthy from glaucomatous eyes were similar for both perimetry types.
• No statistically significant differences were found in the AROCs between matrix and SITA perimetry.

Conclusions:

• Matrix perimetry and SITA perimetry exhibit similar capabilities in differentiating healthy eyes from glaucomatous eyes.
• This holds true irrespective of whether glaucoma diagnosis relies on ONH or OCT-RNFL assessment.