Assessment of parafoveal function in maculopathy: a comparison between the Macular Mapping Test and kinetic Manual Perimetry.
BACKGROUND
Parafoveal function is crucial for patients with maculopathies, because they have to use the parafoveal retina for reading after foveal vision loss. Manual perimetry is a reliable but lengthy method for assessing macular function. The Macular Mapping Test (MMTest) was therefore designed as a quick and easy test. In this study both methods were compared in patients with central scotoma.


METHODS
In 50 patients with maculopathy (22 Stargardt's, 20 age-related, 5 diabetic, 3 other macular dystrophies), 30 degrees Tuebingen Manual Perimetry was performed kinetically. The MMTest assesses local responses to brief displays of letters in the central visual field (8 degrees radius) on a computer screen. A "wagon-wheel" pattern is used to stabilize gaze in the center. Comparison of the methods was based on the correspondence of field defects in each sector.


RESULTS
The overall correspondence was 87.5%. The results could be divided into three groups, depending on fixation behavior: group 1 ( n=27): central fixation in both methods, median correspondence 87.5%, best in Stargardt's disease (95.3%), lowest in diabetic maculopathy (71.8%); group 2 ( n=21): eccentric fixation in both methods (84.3%); group 3 ( n=2): eccentric in TMP, central in MMTest (65.6% and 81.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Provided that the fixation locus is known, the MMTest is a quick and easy screening method, which shows a high correspondence with the results of manual perimetry.
Trauzettel-Klosinski
Susanne
S
Department of Pathophysiology of Vision and Neuro-Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Tübingen, Schleichstrasse 12-16, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. setrauze@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Biermann
Petra
P
Hahn
Gesa
G
Weismann
Malte
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012607:Scotoma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*