Evaluation of visual field findings is an essential ophthalmological task. Applying psychophysical principles enables non-invasive (topo-)diagnostics in case of unexplained visual loss or suspected lesions of the visual pathways. Furthermore, any kind of expert opinion or ability test depends critically on adequate visual field findings. Repeated examinations allow the functional follow-up of a disease and judgement of therapeutic efficiency. This paper is explicitly focused on conventional strategies of visual field examination, since these are widespread, easily accessible, standardized and well established in everyday practice. Part 1 of this continuing education series will mainly impart basic concepts in perimetry and psychophysics. It will also consider indications and the necessary general setup of a perimetric examination. Furthermore, a concept of scotoma classification is explained.
Evaluation of visual field findings is an essential ophthalmological task. Applying psychophysical principles enables noninvasive (topo-)diagnosis in cases of unexplained visual loss or suspected lesions of the visual pathway. Furthermore, any kind of expert opinion or ability test critically depends on adequate visual field findings. Repeated examinations allow functional follow-up of a disease and assessment of therapeutic efficiency. This paper explicitly focuses on conventional strategies since these are widespread, easily accessible, standardized, and well established in everyday practice over years. Standardized white-on-white perimetry with moving targets (kinetic perimetry) is the major topic of this paper (part 2) in addition to "rough"/preliminary confrontation visual field testing. This review series is aimed at imparting basic concepts in perimetry and psychophysics to ophthalmologists and also addresses interested physicians from other disciplines.
The acceptance of K-Train, a computer-based, interactive tool that allows for certification, education and quality control of kinetic perimetry, is high. K-Train is capable of improving a trainee's individual performance in kinetic perimetry and of verifying this by an appropriate scoring system.
Methods for visual field examination using static strategies began with manual static profile perimetry. The transition from a linear stimulus alignment along the profile section to a two-dimensional grid arrangement introduced the era of static grid perimetry. The use of computers makes it possible to automate and standardise this process, allowing the examiner to choose the visual field area, an adequate grid and the optimal strategy, while leaving the processing, visualisation and recording completely observer-independent. This contribution is based only on conventional static procedures for visual field examination (the use of white on white perimetry) as this technique is easily accessible, standardised and well established in everyday practice.
Visual field examination with fixed stimuli was first realized in manual static profile perimetry. The transition from a linear stimulus alignment along a profile section towards a two-dimensional arrangement introduced the era of static grid perimetry. Application of computer technology nowadays allows automation and standardization of this procedure, which enables the examiner to select the necessary visual field area, the adequate grid, and the optimal strategy for an estimation of differential luminance sensitivity. Furthermore, the computer independently takes over the recording, visualization, and processing of the perimetric procedure. This contribution discusses conventional static visual field examinations since these are widely used, easily accessible, well established for practical application, and standardized. This paper (part 4) explicitly focuses on the correct interpretation of automated static strategies of visual field examinations. Furthermore the classification and scoring of visual field defects as well as quality control, progression analysis, and perimetry in childhood are addressed. This manuscript is based on three preceding parts, which were published in previous issues of this journal [27, 28, 29].
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.