[A new miniaturized flicker test for detection of florid retrobulbar neuritis]

Abstract

A new transportable miniaturized flicker test equipped with green LEDs is contrasted with the conventional Tübingen flicker test, based on brightness perception of intermittent white light. The results are compared with those of former studies. In this study we examined 45 eyes suffering from florid optic neuritis. Another group of 114 eyes were either normal (except minimal ametropia) or suffered from a non-inflammatory or non-refractive impairment of central visual function. In all groups only one eye of each subject was examined. Using the criteria of Trauzettel-Klosinski, the new miniaturized "green" flicker test for the detection of a florid optic neuritis showed a specificity of only 50.9% (83.3%) and a sensitivity of 91.1% (64.4%). (The corresponding results of the conventional Tübingen flicker test are shown in parentheses.) Alternatively, analyzing the data with the help of a logistic regression, the "green" flicker test turned out to have a specificity of 92.9% (93.8%) and a sensitivity of 60.5% (44.2%). For further examinations using the flicker test it is useful to consider the duration and reproducibility of each brightness match by repeating the test several times.