Evaluating the visual field effects of blepharoptosis using automated static perimetry

Quantitation of the effects of blepharoptosis on the visual field has largely been limited to manual kinetic perimetry using a single peripheral isopter. The authors evaluated the visual dysfunction caused by blepharoptosis using automated static full-threshold perimetry.

A custom static full-threshold 60 degrees test strategy on the Humphrey field analyzer was used to assess the visual fields of 20 volunteers at their normal baseline and after inducing mild and moderately severe blepharoptosis by applying gold weights to the eyelids. Threshold sensitivities were measured at points along the eight principal meridians, separated by 45 degrees, traditionally used to assess visual field impairment.

For mild blepharoptosis, essentially all test points along the superior meridian were significantly depressed (P < 0.01), with an increase in slope secondary to greater decreases in sensitivity at more eccentric points. For moderately severe blepharoptosis, depression of the superior meridian was expectedly greater than that seen with mild blepharoptosis. Additionally, depression of the horizontal meridians and to a lesser extent the lower meridians also was noted.

These results suggest that even mild blepharoptosis may be associated with depression of the superior visual field extending close to fixation. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the effect of blepharoptosis when testing for other ophthalmic or neurologic disorders using automated static perimetry. Full-threshold static perimetry can be used to quantitate the visual field loss associated with blepharoptosis as a means of evaluating visual impairment.