The effect of learning and age on short-term fluctuation and mean sensitivity of automated static perimetry

Knowledge of the effect of perimetric experience is essential in evaluation of visual fields. In the present study we report on the learning effect on short-term fluctuation (SF), and mean sensitivity (MS) correlating this effect with age in the older age groups. A sample of 33 volunteers with no history of ocular disease was subjected to two automated static perimetry tests. Program 32 of the Octopus 2000 was used for evaluation of the learning effect on SF and MS of the whole field, single quadrants and three eccentric zones. The learning effect on MS of the whole field and single zones of the first and the second session was statistically significant except in the upper temporal zone. Further, the learning effect showed a positive correlation with age on MS of the whole field, the lower quadrants and the eccentric zones from 0 to 20 degrees. The SF showed a significant learning effect, but no correlation with age could be demonstrated. However, SF increased significantly with age.