Nerve fiber analyzer and short-wavelength automated perimetry in glaucoma suspects: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To test the relationship between the results of short-wavelength automatic perimetry (SWAP) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements with scanning laser polarimetry (Nerve Fiber Analyzer, NFA) in age-matched normal subjects, glaucoma suspects, and early glaucoma patients.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Thirty-eight normal subjects, 32 glaucoma suspects, and 14 early glaucoma patients were recruited. All subjects underwent RNFL assessment by NFA, achromatic visual field testing (24-2 threshold), and repeated SWAP (24-2 threshold blue-on-yellow).


METHODS
Mean deviation (MD) of visual field testing and RNFL values were obtained.


RESULTS
Glaucoma suspects were divided into two groups according to their SWAP results: high risk (with SWAP abnormalities) and low risk (with normal SWAP result). No statistically significant difference in SWAP MD and RNFL values were observed between normal and low-risk groups (P > 0.05), but these values were found to be significantly lower in high-risk and early glaucoma groups (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that RNFL examination by NFA may be a useful test for the early detection of glaucomatous damage of glaucoma suspects. It appears to provide agreement with SWAP abnormalities and is more sensitive than conventional standard automated perimetry.
Mok
K H
KH
Eye Centre, Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
Lee
V W
VW
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014794:Visual Fields