BASE-LINE ALTERATIONS IN BLUE-ON-YELLOW NORMAL PERIMETRIC SENSITIVITY

Background: the extent of any learning and fatigue effects in blue-on- yellow (B-Y) perimetry is unknown. The within- and between-eye changes in B-Y normal sensitivity at a single visit and between visits was in vestigated as a function of previous experience in white-on-white (W-W ) perimetry and of subject age. Methods: Sixty-one normal subjects - 2 2 young (range 20-34 years) and 39 elderly (range 51-80 years)- assign ed to one of four groups based upon perimetric experience and age unde rwent B-Y perimetry on four separate occasions using Program 30-2 of a modified Humphrey Field Analyser 640. Perimetry was performed for bot h eyes on three consecutive days and again one week later. Global, hem ifield and annular mean sensitivities and global shortterm fluctuation were calculated for each eye at each visit. Results: Mean sensitivity was higher in the first eye examined and increased over the 3 days. T he increase in mean sensitivity was similar for each eye and was indep endent of perimetric experience and age. Short-term fluctuation decrea sed over the 3 days, regardless of eye and experience, but was more pr onounced for the younger age group. The extent of all improvements var ied considerably between subjects. Conclusions: Improvements in B-Y pe rimetric performance occurred as the familiarity with the test increas ed, regardless of previous W-W experience. Failure to account for such improvement could reduce the efficiency of B-Y perimetry.