Can frequency-doubling technology and short-wavelength automated perimetries detect visual field defects before...

To assess the ability of frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry and short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) to detect glaucomatous damage in preperimetric glaucoma subjects.

Two hundred seventy-eight eyes of 278 subjects categorized as normal eyes [n=98; intraocular pressure <20 mm Hg, normal optic disc appearance, and standard automated perimetry (SAP)]; preperimetric glaucoma eyes (n=109; normal SAP and retinal nerve fiber layer defects or localized optic disc notching and thinning); and glaucoma patients (n=71; intraocular pressure >21 mm Hg, optic disc compatible with glaucoma, and abnormal SAP).

The preperimetric glaucoma group underwent at least 2 reliable full-threshold 24-2 Humphrey SAPs, full-threshold C-20 FDT, full-threshold 24-2 SWAP, optic disc topography using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II, laser polarimetry using the GDx VCC, and Optical Coherence Tomography (Zeiss Stratus OCT 3000). Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted for the main Heidelberg Retina Tomograph, Optical Coherence Tomography, and GDx VCC parameters for the normal and glaucoma patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the parameters indicating glaucomatous damage in the optic disc or retinal nerve fiber layer, which were used to establish additional subgroups of patients with preperimetric glaucoma. FDT and SWAP sensitivities were calculated for the patient subsets with structural damage and normal SAP.

At least 20% of the patients with preperimetric glaucoma demonstrated functional losses in FDT and SWAP. The more severe the structural damage, the greater the sensitivity for detecting glaucomatous visual field losses.

FDT and SWAP detect functional losses in cases of suspected glaucoma before glaucomatous losses detected by SAP.