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.
Fogagnolo
Paolo
P
G.B. Bietti Foundation for the Study and Research in Ophthalmology, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. fogagnolopaolo@googlemail.com
Tanga
Lucia
L
Rossetti
Luca
L
Oddone
Francesco
F
Manni
Gianluca
G
Orzalesi
Nicola
N
Centofanti
Marco
M
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*