[New diagnostic aids in automatic perimetry]

Abstract

The Conformity Analysis is a new procedure for objective recognition of specific defect patterns in automated perimetry. The "Conformity Index," the measure of conformity between the distribution of defect values and several standard defect patterns, is calculated from the ratio of global variance and mean variance in particular regions. Using 68 visual fields from 68 normal persons, we determined normal values and limits of the Conformity Index for seven standard defect patterns: hemifields right-left, hemifields upper-lower, quadrants, sectors, rings with 5 degrees and 10 degrees radius interval and the perimetric nerve fiber bundles of Weber and Ulrich. The evaluation of 148 visual fields (68 normal eyes, 80 eyes with chronic glaucoma and all stages of damage) by both the Conformity Index and two experienced clinicians revealed an identical result in 89%. Using the Conformity Analysis in 37 cases of pituitary adenoma, we could objectively identify quadrants, sectors and hemifields right-left to be the most common defect patterns in this disease. In glaucoma fields with marked damage (n = 46), the most frequent pathological Conformity Index was the index for perimetric nerve fiber bundles.