GlauCUTU: Virtual Reality Visual Field Test.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Medical Technology
• Visual Science

Background:

• Glaucoma diagnosis relies on visual field (VF) testing, often using time-consuming methods like the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA).
• Conventional perimetry can cause patient fatigue and requires specialized equipment, limiting accessibility, especially in low-resource settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the GlauCUTU system, a novel virtual reality (VR) head-mounted visual field (VF) test.
• To assess the efficacy of the GlauCUTU VF test in measuring reaction time (RT) for glaucoma detection and compare its performance against the established Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (HFA).

Main Methods:

• The GlauCUTU system utilizes a 24-2 VF protocol with moving visual stimuli of increasing intensity, measuring participant reaction times (RTs) via a clicker response.
• The system was tested on two groups: individuals with normal visual fields and those diagnosed with glaucoma.
• Performance metrics, including test duration and diagnostic accuracy, were compared between the GlauCUTU system and the HFA.

Main Results:

• The GlauCUTU VF test demonstrated a significantly shorter average test duration (254.41 seconds) compared to the HFA (609 seconds) [t(16) = 15.273, p<0.05].
• The GlauCUTU system successfully differentiated between glaucomatous and normal eyes for both left and right eyes.
• The reduction in test duration by 354 seconds with GlauCUTU is expected to decrease test-induced eye fatigue.

Conclusions:

• The GlauCUTU VR perimetry system is a portable, cost-effective, and promising tool for glaucoma screening, enhancing accessibility.
• Its ability to measure reaction time (RT) provides a clinically relevant metric, particularly as RT is often altered in glaucoma patients.
• The system's efficiency and diagnostic capability make it suitable for various clinical settings, including those with limited resources.