Aims

To determine the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness at which visual field (VF) damage becomes detectable and associated with structural loss.

Methods

In a prospective cross-sectional study, 72 healthy and 40 glaucoma subjects (one eye per subject) recruited from an academic institution had VF examinations and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) optic disc cube scans (Humphrey field analyser and Cirrus HD-OCT, respectively). Comparison of global mean and sectoral RNFL thicknesses with VF threshold values showed a plateau of threshold values at high RNFL thicknesses and a sharp decrease at lower RNFL thicknesses. A ‘broken stick’ statistical model was fitted to global and sectoral data to estimate the RNFL thickness ‘tipping point’ where the VF threshold values become associated with the structural measurements. The slope for the association between structure and function was computed for data above and below the tipping point.

Results

The mean RNFL thickness threshold for VF loss was 75.3 μm (95% CI: 68.9 to 81.8), reflecting a 17.3% RNFL thickness loss from age-matched normative value. Above the tipping point, the slope for RNFL thickness and threshold value was 0.03 dB/μm (CI: −0.02 to 0.08) and below the tipping point, it was 0.28 dB/μm (CI: 0.18 to 0.38); the difference between the slopes was statistically significant (p<0.001). A similar pattern was observed for quadrant and clock-hour analysis.

Conclusions

Substantial structural loss (~17%) appears to be necessary for functional loss to be detectable using the current testing methods.

Background

Matrix perimetry is a new iteration of frequency‐doubling technology (FDT) which uses a smaller target size in the standard achromatic perimetry presentation pattern.

Aim

To compare the performance of matrix and Swedish interactive thresholding algorithm (SITA) perimetry in detecting glaucoma diagnosed by structural assessment.

Design

Prospective cross‐sectional study.

Methods

76 eyes from 15 healthy subjects and 61 consecutive glaucoma suspects and patients with glaucoma were included. All patients underwent optic nerve head (ONH) photography, SITA and matrix perimetries, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) within a 6‐month period. Glaucoma diagnosis was established by either glaucomatous optic neuropathy or OCT by assessing retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness. Mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), glaucoma hemifield test and cluster of abnormal testing locations were recorded from matrix and SITA perimetries.

Results

Similar correlations were observed with matrix and SITA perimetry MD and PSD with either cup‐to‐disc ratio or OCT mean RNFL. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AROC) curves of MD and PSD for discriminating between healthy and glaucomatous eyes ranged from 0.69 to 0.81 for matrix perimetry and from 0.75 to 0.77 for SITA perimetry. There were no significant differences among any corresponding matrix and SITA perimetry AROCs.

Conclusions

Matrix and SITA perimetries had similar capabilities for distinguishing between healthy and glaucomatous eyes regardless of whether the diagnosis was established by ONH or OCT–RNFL assessment.

Purpose

Matrix perimetry is a new iteration of frequency doubling technology (FDT) using a smaller target size in the standard achromatic perimetry presentation pattern. This study compared Matrix and Swedish interactive thresholding algorithm (SITA) perimetry performance in detecting glaucoma diagnosed by structural assessment.

Design

Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods

Seventy-six eyes of 76 consecutive healthy subjects, glaucoma suspects and glaucoma patients were included. All patients underwent optic nerve head (ONH) photography, SITA and Matrix perimetry and optical coherence tomography (OCT; Stratus OCT) within a six month interval. Glaucoma diagnosis was established by either glaucomatous optic neuropathy or OCT retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), glaucoma hemifield test (GHT) and cluster of abnormal testing locations were recorded from Matrix and SITA.

Results

Similar correlations were observed with Matrix and SITA MD and PSD with either cup-to-disc ratio or OCT mean RNFL. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AROC) curves of MD and PSD for discriminating between healthy and glaucomatous eyes ranged from 0.69 to 0.81 for Matrix and from 0.75 to 0.77 for SITA. There were no statistically significant differences among any corresponding Matrix and SITA AROCs.

Conclusions

Matrix and SITA perimetry had similar capabilities for distinguishing between healthy and glaucomatous eyes regardless of whether the diagnosis was established by ONH or OCT RNFL assessment.