Mild learning effect of short-wavelength automated perimetry using SITA program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the learning effect at Short-wavelength Automated Perimetry (SWAP) using the Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm (SITA) program over the central 24 degrees on patients with ocular hypertension experienced with standard automated perimetry.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients underwent 5 SITA SWAP tests at intervals of 5+/-2 days in a randomized eye. Learning effect was defined as an improvement in results for duration, perimetric indices, foveal sensitivity, Glaucoma Hemifield Test, number of points with a P<5% and <1% in the total, and pattern deviation maps, total, central, paracentral, peripheral, and quadrant sensitivity.


RESULTS
Learning effect was shown for foveal sensitivity (P=0.006, analysis of variance), which was significantly different only between the first (23.0 dB+/-4.1 dB) and the last test (24.7 dB+/-3.8 dB, P=0.003, t test) and was not affected by any demographic or ophthalmic characteristics of the population. All the other parameters did not show any significant learning effect.


CONCLUSIONS
SITA SWAP is affected by a small learning effect interfering only with the first test, as opposite to full-threshold SWAP program, which previously showed severe learning artefacts. This fact may induce reconsideration of the clinical utilization of SWAP for the early diagnosis of glaucoma.
G.B. Bietti Foundation for the Study and Research in Ophthalmology, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. fogagnolopaolo@googlemail.com
Paolo
P
Fogagnolo
Lucia
L
Tanga
Luca
L
Rossetti
Francesco
F
Oddone
Gianluca
G
Manni
Nicola
N
Orzalesi
Marco
M
Centofanti
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods*