Psychophysical factors that have been applied to clinical perimetry

Visual Field Tests: A Narrative Review of Different Perimetric Methods

Visual field (VF) testing dates back to fifth century B.C. It plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of retinal and neurological diseases. This review summarizes each of the different VF tests and perimetric methods, including the advantages and disadvantages and adherence to the desired standard diagnostic criteria. The review targets beginners and eye care professionals and includes history and evolution, qualitative and quantitative tests, and subjective and objective perimetric methods. VF testing methods have evolved in terms of technique, precision, user-friendliness, and accuracy. Consequently, some earlier perimetric techniques, often still effective, are not used or have been forgotten. Newer technologies may not always be advantageous because of higher costs, and they may not achieve the desired sensitivity and specificity. VF testing is most often used in glaucoma and neurological diseases, but new objective methods that also measure response latencies are emerging for the management of retinal diseases. Given the varied perimetric methods available, clinicians are advised to select appropriate methods to suit their needs and target disease and to decide on applying simple vs. complex tests or between using subjective and objective methods. Newer, rapid, non-contact, objective methods may provide improved patient satisfaction and allow for the testing of children and the infirm.

Developing a Screening Tool for Areas of Abnormal Central Vision Using Visual Stimuli With Natural Scene Statistics

Purpose

Previous studies show that some visual field (VF) defects are detectable from visual search behavior; for example, when watching video. Here, we developed and tested a VF testing approach that measures the number of fixations to find targets on a background with spatial frequency content similar to natural scenes.

Methods

Twenty-one older controls and 20 people with glaucoma participated. Participants searched for a Gabor (6 c/°) that appeared in one of 25 possible locations within a 15° (visual angle) 1/f noise background (RMS contrast: 0.20). Procedure performance was assessed by calculating sensitivity and specificity for different combinations of control performance limits (p = 95%, 98%, 99%), number of target locations with fixations outside control performance limits (k = 0 to 25) and number of repeated target presentations (n = 1 to 20).

Results

Controls made a median of two to three fixations (twenty-fifth to seventy-fifth percentile: two to four) to locate the target depending on location. A VF was flagged “abnormal” when the number of fixations was greater than the p = 99% for k = 3 or more locations with n = 2 repeated presentations, giving 85% sensitivity and 95.2% specificity. The median test time for controls was 85.71 (twenty-fifth to seventy-fifth percentile: 66.49–113.53) seconds.

Conclusion

Our prototype test demonstrated effective and efficient screening of abnormal areas in central vision.

Translational Relevance

Visual search behavior can be used to detect central vision loss and may produce results that relate well to performance in natural visual environments.

Trail-Traced Threshold Test (T4) With a Weighted Binomial Distribution for a Psychophysical Test

Clinical visual field testing is performed with commercial perimetric devices and employs psychophysical techniques to obtain thresholds of the differential light sensitivity (DLS) at multiple retinal locations. Current thresholding algorithms are relatively inefficient and tough to get satisfied test accuracy, stability concurrently. Thus, we propose a novel Bayesian perimetric threshold method called the Trail-Traced Threshold Test (T4), which can better address the dependence of the initial threshold estimation and achieve significant improvement in the test accuracy and variability while also decreasing the number of presentations compared with Zippy Estimation by Sequential Testing (ZEST) and FT. This study compares T4 with ZEST and FT regarding presentation number, mean absolute difference (MAD between the real Visual field result and the simulate result), and measurement variability. T4 uses the complete response sequence with the spatially weighted neighbor responses to achieve better accuracy and precision than ZEST, FT, SWeLZ, and with significantly fewer stimulus presentations. T4 is also more robust to inaccurate initial threshold estimation than other methods, which is an advantage in subjective methods, such as in clinical perimetry. This method also has the potential for using in other psychophysical tests.

Measures of Function and Structure to Determine Phenotypic Features, Natural History, and Treatment Outcomes in Inherited Retinal Diseases

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are at the forefront of innovative gene-specific treatments because of the causation by single genes, the availability of microsurgical access for treatment delivery, and the relative ease of quantitative imaging and vision measurement. However, it is not always easy to choose a priori, from scores of potential measures, an appropriate subset to evaluate efficacy outcomes considering the wide range of disease stages with different phenotypic features. This article reviews measurements of visual function and retinal structure that our group has used over the past three decades to understand the natural history of IRDs. We include measures of light sensitivity, retinal structure, mapping of natural fluorophores, evaluation of pupillary light reflex, and oculomotor control. We provide historical context and examples of applicability. We also review treatment trial outcomes using these measures of function and structure. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Vision Science, Volume 7 is September 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Contrast Sensitivity on 1/f Noise Is More Greatly Impacted by Older Age for the Fovea Than Parafovea

SIGNIFICANCE

Contrast sensitivity changes across the visual field with age and is often measured clinically with various forms of perimetry on plain backgrounds. In daily life, the visual scene is more complicated, and therefore, the standard clinical measures of contrast sensitivity may not predict a patient's visual experience in more natural environments.

PURPOSE

This study aims to determine whether contrast thresholds in older adults are different from younger adults when measured on a 1/f noise background (a nonuniform background whose spatial frequency content is similar to those present in the natural vision environments).

METHODS

Twenty younger (age range, 20 to 35 years) and 20 older adults (age range, 61 to 79 years) with normal ocular health were recruited. Contrast thresholds were measured for a Gabor patch of 6 cycles per degree (sine wave grating masked by a Gaussian envelope of standard deviation 0.17°) presented on 1/f noise background (root-mean-square contrast, 0.05 and 0.20) that subtended 15° diameter of the central visual field. The stimulus was presented at four eccentricities (0°, 2°, 4°, and 6°) along the 45° meridian in the noise background, and nine contrast levels were tested at each eccentricity. The proportion of correct responses for detecting the target at each eccentricity was obtained, and psychometric functions were fit to estimate the contrast threshold.

RESULTS

Older adults demonstrate increased contrast thresholds compared with younger adults. There was an eccentricity-dependent interaction with age, with the difference between groups being highest in the fovea compared with other eccentricities. Performance was similar for the two noise backgrounds tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed a strong eccentricity dependence in performance between older and younger adults, highlighting age-related differences in the contrast detection mechanisms between fovea and parafovea for stimuli presented on nonuniform backgrounds.

A framework for assessing glaucoma progression using structural and functional indices jointly

Purpose

While many tests and indices are available to identify glaucoma progression, using them in combinations may decrease overall specificity. The aim of this study was to develop a framework for assessing glaucoma progression using structural and functional indices jointly for a fixed specificity.

Methods

The study included 337 eyes of 207 patients with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma selected from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study or the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study. All patients had at least 9 visits. Each visit had retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and mean sensitivity from static automated perimetry (SAP MS) measured within a one-month window. Simple linear regression was applied to assess deterioration in each index for series of 5 to 9 visits. To identify progression using the two indices jointly, marginal significance levels set at a specificity of 95% were derived for two criteria: ANY (worsening on either RNFLT or SAP MS) and ALL (worsening on both RNFLT and SAP MS). Positive rate (percentage of eyes flagged as progressing) was determined individually for each index, as well as for the ANY and ALL criteria.

Results

Compared to SAP MS, RNFLT had higher positive rates (15% to 45%) for all series lengths. For the joint analyses, the positive rate was on average 12% higher for the ANY criterion compared to the ALL criterion. While RNFLT-alone had comparable positive rates and time-to-detection as the ANY criterion, each uniquely identified a subset of eyes (Kappa = 0.55 to 0.75).

Conclusions

This study provides a simple framework for assessing glaucoma progression with data from two tests jointly, without compromising specificity. This framework can be extended to include two or more parameters, can accommodate global or regional indices, and can eventually be used with novel parameters identified as predictive of glaucoma progression.

Contrast sensitivity isocontours of the central visual field

Standard automated perimetry (SAP), the most common form of perimetry used in clinical practice, is associated with high test variability, impacting clinical decision making and efficiency. Contrast sensitivity isocontours (CSIs) may reduce test variability in SAP by identifying regions of the visual field with statistically similar patterns of change that can be analysed collectively and allow a point (disease)-to-CSI (normal) comparison in disease assessment as opposed to a point (disease)-to-point (normal) comparison. CSIs in the central visual field however have limited applicability as they have only been described using visual field test patterns with low, 6° spatial sampling. In this study, CSIs were determined within the central 20° visual field using the 10-2 test grid paradigm of the Humphrey Field Analyzer which has a high 2° sampling frequency. The number of CSIs detected in the central 20° visual field was greater than previously reported with low spatial sampling and stimulus size dependent: 6 CSIs for GI, 4 CSIs for GII and GIII, and 3 CSIs for GIV and GV. CSI number and distribution were preserved with age. Use of CSIs to assess visual function in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) found CSI guided analysis detected a significantly greater deviation in sensitivity of AMD eyes from normal compared to a standard clinical pointwise comparison (−1.40 ± 0.15 dB vs −0.96 ± 0.15 dB; p < 0.05). This work suggests detection of CSIs within the central 20° is dependent on sampling strategy and stimulus size and normative distribution limits of CSIs can indicate significant functional deficits in diseases affecting the central visual field such as AMD.

Inter-device comparison of retinal sensitivity measurements: the CenterVue MAIA and the Nidek MP-1

BACKGROUND

Our aim is to compare retinal sensitivity measurements obtained on two microperimeters: the CenterVue MAIA and the Nidek MP-1.

DESIGN

A prospective study was conducted in a private ophthalmology clinic.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventeen individuals with a range of stable macular function were recruited as participants.

METHODS

Microperimetry in one eye with identical test strategy in both devices, with randomized testing order, is used.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcome measures include differences in mean sensitivity (MS), point-wise sensitivity (PWS) and duration. Limits of agreement (LoA) in MS and pooled PWS were calculated. Concordance in scotoma assessment was analysed by kappa (κ) agreement of local defect classification (LDC), LoA in number of scotomatous loci detected and congruence in scotoma localization (CSL).

RESULTS

Median (interquartile range) MS of the MP-1 and MAIA was 13.3 (5.6-18.1) and 21.2 (14.5-27.0) dB, (P < 0.05). Mean difference in PWS was 7.3 dB (MAIA > MP-1). Median (interquartile range) duration for the MP-1 and MAIA was 10'28″ (7'17″-11'53″) and 8'46″ (8'30″-9'06″), (P = 0.21). LoA for MS and pooled PWS was 1.4 to 13.3 dB and -3.9 to 18.5 dB. There was moderate agreement between the devices for LDC (weighted κ = 0.55, P < 0.05). LoA in number of scotomatous loci detected was -13 to 18. CSL varied from 0 to 100% and correlated strongly with increasing scotoma size.

CONCLUSIONS

The large LoA and variation in scotoma mapping concordance suggest that the same microperimeter should be used for follow-up examination. We recommend caution in comparing results derived from different types of microperimeters.

Intersession test-retest variability of conventional and novel parameters using the MP-1 microperimeter

Purpose

To investigate the intersession test–retest variability (TRV) of topography- and threshold-based parameters derived from the Nidek MP-1.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Methods

Sixteen participants with and without central scotoma underwent microperimetry in one eye over three sessions at 1-month intervals in a single institution. We calculated 95% coefficient of repeatability (CR) for the number of normal-suspect (NS) loci, relative scotoma (RS) and dense scotoma (DS), median macular sensitivity (MS), mean sensitivity of responding loci (RLS), perilesional loci (PLS), and extralesional loci (ELS). Topographical agreement score of mapping NS and DS loci (TAS_NS and TAS_DS) were also calculated for each patient.

Results

Mean (range) age was 50 (21–86) years. The CR (95% confidence intervals) for NS, RS, and DS were 9.9 (6.5–13.3), 9.5 (6.2–12.7), and 3.0 (1.1–4.1) respectively. CR (95% CIs) for median MS, mean RLS, PLS, and ELS were 3.4 (2.3–4.5), 1.6 (1.1–2.2), 1.8 (0.9–2.6), and 2.8 (1.5–4.0) dB. We found significant change in thresholds between Test 1, and Tests 2 and 3 (both P=0.03), but not between Tests 2 and 3 (P=0.8). Medians (range) TAS_NS and TAS_DS were 74% (39%–100%) and 77% (0%–97%), respectively, between Tests 2 and 3.

Conclusion

We recommend the use of four DS loci (upper limit of CR) as the limit of TRV for assessing change. There was large interindividual variability in NS or DS mapping agreement. We recommend discarding the first microperimetry test and caution the use of a change in spatial distribution to determine disease progression.