EFFECTIVENESS OF ENTOPTIC PERIMETRY FOR LOCATING PERIPHERAL SCOTOMAS CAUSED BY CYTOMEGALOVIRUS RETINITIS

Objective: To determine the the effectiveness of random particle motio n, presented on a computer monitor, as a noninvasive test for detectin g cytomegalovirus retinitis. Design: A prospective masked study in whi ch patients were asked to trace out any disturbances on a transparency placed over a computer monitor that displayed continuous random parti cle motion, while the patient fixated on a central spot (entoptic peri metry). Setting: The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Ocular Researc h Unit at the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla. Patien ts: Twenty-two men with cytomegalovirus retinitis who were positive fo r human immunodeficiency virus, II men without cytomegalovirus retinit is who were positive for human immunodeficiency virus, and eight men w ho were negative for human immunodeficiency virus. Intervention: None. Measurements: Sensitivities and specificities were used to compare th e results of entoptic perimetry with fundus photographs. Results: Ento ptic perimetry demonstrated a 95% sensitivity and a 95% specificity in detection of cytomegalovirus retinitis. Conclusion: Entoptic perimetr y may be an effective and inexpensive screening test for cytomegalovir us retinitis in hospitals and community clinics.