Current status of visual field examination in Andalusia, Spain: the SICVA Study

To ascertain the frequency of visual field examination (VFE) in patients attending public Andalusian hospitals (the SICVA study).

This was a multicenter, observational, retrospective study of patients with documented and/or suspected glaucoma subject to campimetric monitoring for longer than 2 years. The numbers of VFEs performed in the first 2 years and in the complete follow-up period were analyzed. Data on VFE reliability were studied and VFE change was collected based on the Glaucoma Staging System 2.

A total of 722 eyes (from 467 consecutive patients), 349 with suspected and 373 with documented glaucoma, were included. Mean patient age was 65.9 years (SD = 11.3), and median follow-up time was 56 months (P25 = 36, P75 = 84). Three (P25 = 2, P75 = 4) VFEs were performed in the first 2 years of follow-up in the overall sample, as compared to 2 VFEs (P25 = 2, P75 = 4) in patients with suspected glaucoma, and 3 VFEs (P25 = 2, P75 = 4) in those with documented glaucoma (p<0.001).

Based on these results, frequency of VFE in Andalusia differs from the standards recommended by the European Glaucoma Society to assess progression in the first 2 years of patient follow-up.