Comparison of the Goldmann-Weekers dark adaptometer and LKC Technologies Scotopic Sensitivity tester-1.
The standard for dark adaptation has long been the Goldmann-Weekers Dark Adaptometer(Haag-Streit). More recently, portable, relatively inexpensive LED-based dark adaptometers have become commercially available. These devices have potential use in areas with limited resources to screen for night-blindness, commonly caused worldwide by vitamin A deficiency. In order to determine the sensitivity to detecting changes in night vision, this study compared one such device, LKC Technologies Scotopic Sensitivity Tester-1 (SST-1) to the Goldmann-Weekers in patients with hereditary retinal degeneration and loss of rod function. Dark-adapted final thresholds and rod full-field ERG responses were obtained from 87 patients and 24 normal subjects. Linear regression analysis, discrepancy analysis, and receiver operator characteristic curves for both devices show that the SST-1 quantifies psychophysical rod function nearly as well as the Goldmann-Weekers, within some limitations. We conclude, therefore, that the SST-1 is a viable alternative to the Goldmann-Weekers for the screening of night-blinding retinal disorders.
Peters
A Y
AY
Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, TX, USA. rfsw@retinafoundation.org
Locke
K G
KG
Birch
D G
DG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004596:Electroretinography; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014792:Visual Acuity