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Prevent Blindness America visual field screening study. The Prevent Blindness America Glaucoma Advisory Committee
W E Sponsel1, R Ritch, R Stamper
1University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA.
American Journal of Ophthalmology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Portable visual field testing devices, Henson and Damato campimetry, effectively screen for moderate to severe vision loss in population studies. These methods offer accurate detection, aiding glaucoma screening beyond tonometry.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Devices
- Public Health Screening
Background:
- Glaucoma screening traditionally relies on tonometry, which has limitations in detecting early visual field loss.
- Portable visual field testing offers a potential adjunct or alternative for broader population screening.
- Assessing the efficacy and practicality of new screening tools is crucial for improving eye health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the screening efficacy of two portable devices: Henson visual field analysis and Damato campimetry.
- To determine the practical usability of these devices for rapid detection of moderate to severe visual field loss in population settings.
- To compare the performance of these devices against established visual field testing methods.
Main Methods:
- Henson visual field analysis and Damato campimetry were employed in a multi-phase study.
- Testing included healthy adults (to assess false-positive rates), glaucoma patients/suspects (for false-negative rates), and a general adult population (for practical use).
- Results were compared with Humphrey perimetry for established visual field loss.
Main Results:
- The Henson test showed no false-positive failures in normal subjects and high sensitivity in detecting moderate to severe visual field loss (84% of abnormal fields).
- Damato campimetry had a low false-positive rate (3.6%) and detected 81% of subjects with pathologic loss, including 92% with moderate to severe loss.
- In population screenings (1,278 subjects), 4.3% failed either or both tests, indicating good population-level applicability.
Conclusions:
- The Henson visual field analyzer demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for discriminating between normal and diseased visual fields.
- The Damato campimeter reliably detects moderate to severe visual field loss with an acceptable false-positive rate.
- Brief, accurate visual field testing methods like these can enhance glaucoma screening strategies, complementing traditional tonometry.