[The Fieldmaster-200 computer perimeter: a comparative, controlled clinical study of its sensitivity and specificity...

The central visual fields of 119 glaucomatous eyes (78 patients) were evaluated under controlled conditions using the Goldmann kinetic perimeter and the Fieldmaster-200 automatic supra-threshold computer perimeter. Where there were qualitative differences between the two instruments, the high-resolution program 61 of the Octopus computer perimeter was used as a reference system. Central visual fields of 101 eyes were also studied using the Octopus 31 program. The Fieldmaster-200 was found to be more sensitive than manual kinetic perimetry in identifying early glaucomatous visual field defects. However, the specificity of the Fieldmaster instrument was significantly lower than that of the Goldmann perimeter. Taking into account the perimetry of the total central visual field using the Octopus program 31, the Octopus itself was found to be the most sensitive of the three methods of detecting early visual field loss. Problems related to the specificity and supra-threshold perimetry that is not adapted to the eccentricity of the test stimulus, as the case with the Fieldmaster-200, are discussed.