title: Perimetry in children: survey of current practices in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Visual fields are key functional outcome measures in children with a variety of ophthalmologic disorders. However, reliably assessing fields in children is challenging. We report the findings of a survey of current practices of perimetry in children in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic questionnaire was sent to Orthoptic Service Heads in July 2008. Respondents were asked for comments regarding visual field testing in children as well as details of the volume and type of perimetry performed in their units, over a 1-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 98 (62%) completed questionnaires, 16 departments reported not testing visual fields in children. In total 3675 subjects under 16 years of age were reported to have undergone perimetry in 1 year, most in units with a ≥ 50% pediatric caseload for orthoptics. A total of 42% of units used static perimetry alone, 11% kinetic, and 47% used a combination of both.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High numbers of visual field tests are carried out in children in the UK and Ireland annually. Automated perimetry is used predominantly, despite the underlying algorithms having been developed for adult populations. Thus there is a clear need for more research, to ensure that evolving management practices are informed by understanding of the diagnostic accuracy and value of perimetry in children.
authors.affiliation: Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.
authors.forename: Bronwen C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: Jugnoo S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rahi
authors.forename: Phillippa M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Cumberland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*