SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Visual Fields”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Visual field abnormalities in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy: their pattern and prevalence at initial examination.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pattern of various types of visual field defects and their prevalence at initial examination of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION). METHODS: The data were compiled from 312 consecutive eyes (in 265 patients) that fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria. A comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation was performed, including recording of visual acuity, visual fields with a Goldmann perimeter (using I-2e, I-4e, and V-4e targets regularly), and intraocular pressure; slitlamp examination of the anterior segment; ophthalmoscopy; color fundus photography; and in acute cases, fluorescein fundus angiography. The visual field defects were divided into 2 groups: (1) general field defects and (2) various types of scotoma in the central 30 degrees . The prevalence of various types of visual field defects was estimated for I-2e, I-4e, and V-4e isopters by dividing the total number of eyes with the defect by the total number of eyes that could see that particular target. Exact 95% confidence limits for the prevalence were computed. RESULTS: Of the 265 patients, 169 (63.7%) were male and the mean +/- SD patient age was 55.0 +/- 9.1 years. The median interval between the first visual field test and the onset of NA-AION was 2 weeks. Of the 312 eyes, the I-2e target was seen by 75.3%, the I-4e target by 90.7%, and the V-4e target by 100%. Overall prevalence of general visual field defects was 83.4% with I-2e, 78.8% with I-4e, and 68.9% with V-4e, whereas the prevalence of scotoma(s) within the central 30 degrees was 55.3%, 49.5%, and 36.2%, respectively. Central scotoma was seen in 48.5% with I-2e, 43.8% with I-4e, and 29.2% with V-4e. A detailed prevalence of various types of visual field defects is given. Relative inferior altitudinal defect was most common (34.9% with I-2e and 22.3% with I-4e), but the absolute inferior altitudinal defect was seen in only 8.0%. By contrast, absolute inferior nasal sector visual loss was the most common defect detected in NA-AION (22.4%), but it occurred in only 3.4% with I-2e and 11.0% with I-4e. Overall, loss of the nasal part of the visual field was the most common occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that NA-AION eyes may initially show a variety of optic nerve-related visual field defects. Our study also showed that an absolute inferior nasal visual field defect is much more common (22.4%) than an absolute inferior altitudinal visual field defect (8.0%) in NA-AION and could be considered the most characteristic single field defect in NA-AION. We found that a combination of relative inferior altitudinal defect with absolute inferior nasal defect is usually the most common pattern in NA-AION.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Visual field representation in striate and prestriate cortices of a prosimian primate (Galago garnetti).

Microelectrode mapping techniques were used to study the visuotopic organization of the first and second visual areas (V1 and V2, respectively) in anesthetized Galago garnetti, alorisiform prosimian primate. 1) V1 occupies approximately 200 mm2 of cortex, and is pear shaped, rather than elliptical as in simian primates. Neurons in V1 form a continuous (1st-order) representation of the visual field, with the vertical meridian forming most of its perimeter. The representation of the horizontal meridian divides V1 into nearly equal sectors representing the upper quadrant ventrally, and the lower quadrant dorsally. 2) The emphasis on representation of central vision is less marked in Galago than in simian primates, both diurnal and nocturnal. The decay of cortical magnification factor with increasing eccentricity is almost exactly counterbalanced by an increase in average receptive field size, such that a point anywhere in the visual field is represented by a compartment of similar diameter in V1. 3) Although most of the cortex surrounding V1 corresponds to V2, one-quarter of the perimeter of V1 is formed by agranular cortex within the rostral calcarine sulcus, including area prostriata. Although under our recording conditions virtually every recording site in V2 yielded visually responsive cells, only a minority of those in area prostriata revealed such responses. 4) V2 forms a cortical belt of variable width, being narrowest (approximately 1 mm) in the representation of the area centralis and widest (2.5-3 mm) in the representation of the midperiphery (>20 degrees eccentricity) of the visual field. V2 forms a second-order representation of the visual field, with the area centralis being represented laterally and the visual field periphery medially, near the calcarine sulcus. Unlike in simians, the line of field discontinuity in Galago V2 does not exactly coincide with the horizontal meridian: a portion of the lower quadrant immediately adjacent to the horizontal meridian is represented at the rostral border of ventral V2, instead of in dorsal V2. Despite the absence of cytochrome oxidase stripes, the visual field map in Galago V2 resembles the ones described in simians in that the magnification factor is anisotropic. 5) Receptive field progressions in cortex rostral to dorsal V2 suggest the presence of a homologue of the dorsomedial area, including representations of both quadrants of the visual field. These results indicate that many aspects of organization of V1 and V2 in simian primates are shared with lorisiform prosimians, and are therefore likely to have been present in the last common ancestor of living primates. However, some aspects of organization of the caudal visual areas in Galago are intermediate between nonprimates and simian primates, reflecting either an intermediate stage of differentiation or adaptations to a nocturnal niche. These include the shape and the small size of V1 and V2, the modest degree of emphasis on central visual field representation, and the relatively large area prostriata.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Diurnal variation of visual field size in patients with postretinal lesions.

Perimetry at various times of day in patients with large visual field defects due to postretinal lesions showed significant variations of visual field size. The largest visual fields were observed at noon, the smallest in the evening. Such systematic variations were observed only in patients who showed a gradual increase of increment threshold between the intact parts of the visual field and the scotoma. In two patients who showed an abrupt transition between intact and blind areas of the visual field, no obvious diurnal variation was observed. It is suggested that an endogenous modulation of neuronal sensitivity coupled to a hypothetical circadian oscillator is the basis of the diurnal variation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Influence of surgical reduction of intraocular pressure on regions of the visual field with different levels of sensitivity.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the ability to document improvement in visual fields after intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction can be enhanced by focusing on regions of the field with different levels of sensitivity. DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. SETTING: Yale Eye Center. STUDY POPULATION: The visual fields (Octopus G2) of 30 eyes of 30 patients undergoing trabeculectomy. OBSERVATION PROCEDURE: Visual fields were evaluated a mean of three months before and 7.8 months after surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in sensitivity between the preoperative and postoperative visual fields (Delta S) was evaluated globally by comparing all 59 points of sensitivity and regionally in three groups according to preoperative sensitivity (pre-S): 25% of highest, 50% intermediate, and 25% of lowest points of sensitivity. Improvement in Delta S was also correlated with preoperative mean defect (pre-MD), percent intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction (Delta IOP%), and patient's age. RESULTS: Six visual fields showed improvement in Delta S when evaluated globally and nine showed improvement in pre-S subgroups. Of the latter, all nine showed improvement in the subgroup with the lowest pre-S, and two in the intermediate subgroup, but none in the subgroup with the highest pre-S. Combining the subgroups with the lowest pre-S and the highest Delta IOP% was associated with the highest mean Delta S. CONCLUSION: The ability to document improvement in visual fields following surgical reduction of IOP may be enhanced by focusing on subgroups of test points with lower baseline sensitivity.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Comparison of methods to detect visual field progression in glaucoma .

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study is to develop alternative statistical approaches for evaluating the trend of visual field series over time and to compare the results to human observers. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of visual field results. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-three eyes of 83 patients (phakic or pseudophakic) with open-angle glaucoma and 5 or more eligible fields were included in the study. INTERVENTION: Three experienced observers independently reviewed the field series to determine stability or progression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The following additional methods to determine progression of visual field loss were used: (1) pointwise univariate regression analysis and a glaucoma change analysis; (2) univariate regression analysis on visual field indices mean deviation, corrected loss variance, and glaucoma pattern index; (3) pointwise multivariate regression analysis with fixed effects on panel data; and (4) clusterwise multivariate regression analysis with fixed effects on panel data. The results of different statistical methods were compared by determining the pairwise agreement (Cohen's weighted kappa) between each technique and three experienced observers. RESULTS: Patients were observed for a mean (+/-standard deviation) of 5.6 (+/-1.4) years. The visual fields of 27 (33%) and 56 (67%) eyes were considered to have progressed or remained stable, respectively, based on agreement of at least 2 of 3 observers. Univariate regression analysis on visual field indices was not useful for detection of visual field progression. Pointwise and clusterwise regression analyses with fixed effects on panel data performed as well as pointwise univariate regression analysis compared with human observers (kappa = 0.52, 0.53, and 0.55, respectively). Both methods showed better agreement with human observers than with glaucoma change analysis (kappa = 0.41). CONCLUSIONS: A new statistical model, multivariate regression analyses with fixed effects on panel data, is an appropriate method to evaluate the course of visual field series over time and shows reasonable agreement with experienced observers and pointwise univariate regression analysis.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Visual field constriction in 91 Finnish children treated with vigabatrin.

PURPOSE: To study the prevalence and features of visual field constrictions (VFCs) associated with vigabatrin (VGB) in children. METHODS: A systematic collection of all children with any history of VGB treatment in fifteen Finnish neuropediatric units was performed, and children were included after being able to cooperate reliably in repeated visual field tests by Goldmann kinetic perimetry. This inclusion criterion yielded 91 children (45 boys; 46 girls) between ages 5.6 and 17.9 years. Visual field extent <70 degrees in the temporal meridian was considered abnormal VFC. RESULTS: There was a notable variation in visual field extents between successive test sessions and between different individuals. VFCs <70 degrees were found in repeated test sessions in 17 (18.7%) of 91 children. There was no difference in the ages at the study, the ages at the beginning of treatment, the total duration of the treatment, general cognitive performance, or neuroradiologic findings between the patients with normal visual fields and those with VFC, but the patients with VFC had received a higher total dose of VGB. In linear regression analysis, there were statistically significant inverse correlations between the temporal extent of the visual fields and the total dose and the duration of VGB treatment. The shortest duration of VGB treatment associated with VFC was 15 months, and the lowest total dose 914 g. CONCLUSIONS: Because of a wide variation in normal visual-field test results in children, the prevalence figures of VFCs are highly dependent on the definition of normality. Although our results confirm the previous findings that VFC may occur in children treated with VGB, our study points out the need to reevaluate critically any suspected VFC to avoid misdiagnosis. Nevertheless, our study suggests that the prevalence of VFC may be lower in children than in adults, and that the cumulative dose of VGB or length of VGB therapy may add to the personal predisposition for developing VFC.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Structure and function evaluation (SAFE): II. Comparison of optic disk and visual field characteristics.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between glaucomatous structural damage to the optic nerve and development of visual field loss with standard automated perimetry (SAP) and short wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP). DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: Patients with elevated intraocular pressure and normal SAP visual fields were enrolled in this prospective study. Stereo optic disk photographs, SAP, and SWAP visual fields were obtained annually over a period of 4 or more years. Trained readers evaluated baseline and follow-up optic disk photographs for evidence of glaucomatous damage. Standard automated perimetry and SWAP examinations were evaluated according to previously validated criteria for development of confirmed visual field changes. RESULTS: Two-hundred ninety-five subjects (479 eyes) were enrolled. Following masked assessment of stereo photographs by an optic disk reading center, 272 of the 479 eyes were judged to have glaucomatous optic neuropathy at the time of study entry. Depending on the criteria employed, approximately 10% to 17.5% of all eyes developed confirmed visual field loss for SAP (conversions). Of the conversions, 75% to 80% had baseline glaucomatous optic disk damage, whereas normal and glaucomatous optic disks were equally divided (50%) among the nonconversion eyes. This difference was statistically significant (P <.003). Depending on the criteria employed, 4% to 12% of the eyes had confirmed SWAP deficits at baseline, and 4% to 8% developed confirmed SWAP defects at a follow-up examination. There was a greater percentage of eyes with a glaucomatous optic neuropathy in the group with SWAP deficits (75%-100%) than for those eyes in which SWAP remained normal (45%-60%). Some of these differences were statistically significant (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: A strong relationship exists between glaucomatous optic disk damage at study entry and the subsequent development of a confirmed glaucomatous SAP visual field defect. A higher percentage of glaucomatous optic disks were also found in patients with SWAP deficits at baseline and in those who later developed SWAP deficits. These findings support the premise that a glaucomatous optic disk is predictive of the subsequent development of glaucomatous visual field loss.

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Superimposed maps of the monocular visual fields in the caudolateral optic tectum in the frog, Rana pipiens.

The superficial layers of the frog optic tectum receive a projection from the contralateral eye that forms a point-to-point map of the visual field. The monocular part of the visual field of the contralateral eye is represented in the caudolateral region of the tectum while the binocular part of the visual field is represented in the rostromedial tectum. Within the representation of the binocular field (rostromedial tectum), the maps of visual space from each eye are aligned. The tectal representation of the binocular visual field of the ipsilateral eye is mediated through a crossed projection from the midbrain nucleus isthmi. This isthmotectal projection also terminates in the caudolateral region of the optic tectum, yet there has been no indication that it forms a functional connection. By extracellular recording in intermediate layer 7 of the caudolateral tectum, we have discovered electrical activity driven by visual stimulation in the monocular visual field of the ipsilateral eye. The units driven from the ipsilateral eye burst upon initial presentation of the stimulus. At individual layer 7 recording sites in the caudolateral tectum, the multiunit receptive field evoked from the ipsilateral eye is located at the mirror image spatial location to the multiunit receptive field driven by the contralateral eye. Thus, as revealed electrophysiologically, there are superimposed topographic maps of the monocular visual fields in the caudolateral tectum. The ipsilateral eye monocular visual field representation can be abolished by electrolytic ablation of contralateral nucleus isthmi.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Visual field changes following acute elevation of intraocular pressure.

Visual field, acuity, and optic nerve head were evaluated in 24 patients with transient but marked elevations in intraocular pressure. The patient population consisted of 16 patients with angle-closure glaucoma and 7 with high tensions following cataract surgery. In all cases, duration and extent of pressure elevation is documented as well as subsequent visual field, acuity, and fundus examinations. In selected cases, visual field determinations were made during the acute pressure elevation. Previous reports of patients with acute pressure elevation are reviewed. The general absence of glaucomatous field defects in this patient population is discussed with respect to the possible pathogenesis of field loss seen in chronic simple glaucoma.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2000

Frequency doubling technology perimetry for detection of glaucomatous visual field loss.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of frequency doubling technology perimetry to detect early, moderate, and advanced glaucomatous visual field loss. METHODS: In a prospective study, frequency doubling technology perimetry (C-20 full threshold) was performed in the right eye of 254 normal control subjects and 230 patients with early (n = 85), moderate (n = 114), or advanced (n = 31) glaucomatous visual field loss. Previous Humphrey Field Analyzer test results were used to classify glaucomatous visual field loss as early (mean deviation no worse than -6 dB), moderate (mean deviation between -6 and -12 dB) or advanced (mean deviation between -12 and -22 dB). RESULTS: Receiver operating characteristic curves showed 100% sensitivity and specificity (area under the curve, 1.0) for detecting advanced glaucomatous visual field loss, approximately 96% sensitivity and 96% specificity (area under the curve, 0.9751) for detecting moderate glaucomatous visual field loss, and approximately 85% sensitivity and 90% specificity (area under the curve, 0.9261) for early glaucomatous visual field loss. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency doubling technology perimetry demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for detection of early, moderate, and advanced glaucomatous visual field loss.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Visual stabilization of posture in retinitis pigmentosa and in artificially restricted visual fields.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between retinitis pigmentosa (RP) progression and the visual contribution to posture stabilization; to examine the extent to which visual-field diameter affects the visual contribution to posture stabilization. METHODS: Posture information was recorded in 35 subjects with well-characterized RP and in 20 subjects with normal vision. Data were collected as each subject stood in a dark environment and as each subject viewed a stationary visual display. In both conditions, somatosensory feedback was concurrently altered. Data were also collected on 10 additional subjects with normal vision wearing field-restricting goggles (visual-field diameters ranged from 26.5 down to 6 degrees). RESULTS: RP progression is accompanied by a steady decrease of the visual stabilization of posture, from normal values at the onset of the disease to the absence of visual stabilization and, eventually, to visual destabilization of posture. Decreasing visual field diameter in the subject with normal vision resulted in a linear decrease of the visual stabilization of posture. However, subjects with RP with comparable visual-field loss showed significantly lower visual stabilization than normal subjects with artificially restricted fields. Moreover, subjects with normal vision with restricted visual fields as small as 6 degrees failed to show visual destabilization of posture. CONCLUSIONS: Most likely, the additional reduction in the visual stabilization of posture shown in subjects with RP, as well as the visual destabilizing effect manifest in the late stages of RP, is caused by anomalous processing of visual information in the remaining visual field.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Binocular visual field changes after surgery in esotropic amblyopia.

PURPOSE: To determine binocular visual field (BVF) changes after strabismus surgery in children with large angle esotropia, and whether these changes can be predicted, using a prism to correct the preoperative angle of deviation. METHODS: Monocular visual field (MVF) and BVF were measured by Goldmann perimetry in healthy adults (n = 6) using a range of prisms. Visual fields were then measured in normal children (n = 19) and in children with large angle esotropic amblyopia (n = 28). The visual field was measured preoperatively with and without a prism equal to the angle of esotropia. A further evaluation was made at 2 and 18 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In healthy adults, prisms had no significant effect on the extent of MVF or BVF. There was no significant difference in the MVF in children with and without strabismus. There was a significant reduction in the BVF and in the ratio of the BVF to MVF between normal children (138 degrees, 0.59; P = 0.01) and children with esotropic amblyopia (120 degrees, 0.57; P = 0.02). Postoperatively, there was a significant improvement in the BVF (P = 0.02), which was maintained at 18 months. The increase in BVF was significantly greater than the variation in repeat fields (P = 0.04), with 8 of 13 children showing an increase in the BVF above the 95% CI of the repeatability measurements. There was a good linear correlation between the size of the preoperative BVF in the presence of a prism and the postoperative BVF (r = 0.90 P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Children with esotropic amblyopia demonstrate a significant reduction in their BVF. Prisms correcting the preoperative angle could be used to predict the potential increase in the BVF after surgery. Patients with a BVF/MVF approaching that found in normal children, however, may not show an improvement in the size of their BVF after surgery.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

[Correlation between the retinal nerve fiber layer defects (RNFLD) and visual field defects in primary open-angle glaucoma].

The RNFLD and the visual field in 73 cases (124 eyes) of primary open-angle glaucoma were studied. It was found that the early RNFLDs were usually local, as combed-hair, slit-like, or wedge shaped defects, while in the medium or late stage, diffuse RNFL atrophy or mixed RNF-LD was the rule. In the group of localized RNFLDs, 8.8% of the patients showed no visual field anomalies, indicating that RNFL damages preceded visual field damages; in the rest of the patients, visual field defects corresponded with the RNFLD in 86.7% of the cases. In patients of the medium or late stage with mixed or diffuse RNFLD, nasal steps and isopter constriction were usually found that corresponded perfectly with the RNFLD.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of a yellow filter on mesopic contrast perception and differential light sensitivity in the visual field.

PURPOSE: Previous studies on the effects of yellow filters in the visual performance have been carried out, presenting discrepancies among the different investigations. Our study reports the influence of the yellow filter without residual reflections on contrast perception and differential light sensitivity (DLS) under mesopic conditions. METHODS: Contrast sensitivity, low contrast visual acuity and luminance thresholds in the central visual field (30 degrees ) were measured in a group of 38 adult subjects with and without a coated yellow lens (482-nm cut-off) under mesopic conditions. RESULTS: The contrast sensitivity mean was significantly better with the filter at low- and middle-range spatial frequencies (1.5 cycles/degree p = 0.002 and 6 cycles/degree p = 0.02). At 5% contrast, the mesopic low contrast visual acuity improved significantly (p = 0.004) when interposing the yellow filter. The increase in DLS was statistically significant [e.g. all visual fields p = 0.0003 and macular visual field (9.5 degrees ) p = 0.00001] through the yellow filter on the different established areas of the visual field (30 degrees ). CONCLUSIONS: The yellow filter without residual reflections had a positive influence on the brightness and contrast perception of healthy subjects, for which its use would be beneficial under mesopic conditions.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Empty sella syndrome with visual field disturbance.

Three patients with empty sella syndrome with various visual field disturbances were reported. In one patient there was evidence of enlargement of Mariotte spots, and in the others, irregular visual field defects. These three patients were initially suspected to have intraocular tumors because of the balloonings of the sella and visual field disturbances. However, the diagnosis of empty sella was confirmed by metrizamide cisternography and metrizamide computed tomography(CT). The results indicate that the patient with enlargement of the sella on the plain skull X-ray and visual field disturbance should be examined by metrizamide cisternography and metrizamide CT scan to differentiate from the intrasellar tumor.

Aged↗

PubMed1987

Regional threshold contrast sensitivity within the central visual field in optic neuritis.

Contrast sensitivity was measured at nine locations within the central 10 degrees of the visual field in cases of recovered optic neuritis having varying degrees of residual deficit. A sample of 82 patches of visual field was obtained in 14 cases. Circular patches of vertically orientated sinusoidal gratings, 2.5 degrees in diameter, were used. The gratings were modulated in time at 8 Hz and the effect of spatial frequency on the threshold loss determined at each visual field location. As anticipated from what is known of visual field changes in the disorder there was considerable variation in the magnitude of the contrast threshold elevation at different locations in the visual field in any one case. The variability was more marked in cases with greater overall deficit. Three types of spatial loss were encountered. The most common was a loss which increased at higher spatial frequencies, found in 65 of the 82 patches of visual field examined. In 11 the loss was unaffected by spatial frequency and in the remaining 6 the loss was maximal at an intermediate spatial frequency. There was no instance of a loss maximal at low spatial frequencies. Overall the results indicate that sensitivity to higher spatial frequencies is more likely to be impaired following an attack of optic neuritis. In the combined results the effect of spatial frequency on the threshold elevation was statistically significant at all eccentricities (P less than 0.001). Analysis of the combined results revealed no difference in the mean contrast sensitivity loss at eccentricities of zero, 3.75 degrees or 7.5 degrees for intermediate and low spatial frequencies. There is no evidence from these results to suggest that the central foveal projection (papillomacular bundle) is more likely to be affected following an attack of optic neuritis than the projections of other eccentricities within the central 10 degrees as far as mechanisms subserving luminance vision are concerned at these spatial frequencies. Overall there was slightly greater reduction in acuity within the central 5 degrees than at 7.5 degrees eccentricity (P less than 0.05). This may be accounted for by the finding that higher spatial frequencies are more affected, rather than being related to eccentricity per se.

Demyelinating Diseases↗

PubMed1994

The non-contribution of attentional biases to visual field asymmetries for temporal discrimination.

Divided visual field techniques were used to investigate hemispheric asymmetries for the threshold of fusion of two flashes in a group of right-handed adults. A right visual field (RVF) advantage was found and this was interpreted in terms of the left hemisphere's enhanced capacity for the detection of fine temporal events. This asymmetry could be the result of either (a) a structural advantage (where an asymmetry in physical access exists); or (b) an attentional bias (where attention is biased to one side). In order to assess the contribution of attentional and structural factors, attention was manipulated during the experiment by a centrally located arrow which could give neutral, valid (80%) or invalid cues (20%). Reaction time measures showed a cost for invalid trials relative to valid trials. This effective manipulation of attention for the valid and invalid trials had no effect on the RVF advantage relative to the baseline (neutral) trials. It was concluded that attentional biases play no significant role in the RVF advantage for two-flash fusion.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Prevention of visual field defect after macular hole surgery by passing air used for fluid-air exchange through water.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect on peripheral visual field defects occurring after macular hole surgery of passing air that is used for fluid-air exchange through water before infusion to the eye. METHODS: We used Goldmann perimetry to measure the visual fields of patients who underwent vitrectomy to manage idiopathic full-thickness macular holes using either room air or humidified air for fluid-air exchange. We retrospectively studied visual fields measured in 39 patients (group 1) who underwent vitrectomy without humidification of air and prospectively studied visual fields measured in 33 patients (group 2) who consecutively underwent vitrectomy with humidified air for fluid-air exchange. RESULTS: In group 1, nine patients (23%) had peripheral visual field defects, most often located in the inferior or inferotemporal quadrant. No patients (0%) in group 2 had a visual field defect after vitrectomy. The difference between groups 1 and 2 in the proportion of patients with visual field defects after vitrectomy was statistically significant (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Passing air used for fluid-air exchange through water seems to prevent visual field defects after vitrectomy for macular hole surgery. Visual field defects that occur after room air is used may result from desiccation of the retina by room air.

Aged↗