Temporal contrast sensitivity with peripheral and central stimulation in glaucoma diagnosis

Aims-To evaluate temporal contrast sensitivity with full field, peripheral, and central stimulation and to determine the most sensitive corresponding retinal area for glaucoma damage. Methods-Temporal contrast sensitivity was determined either with a full fie ld, a peripheral annular area from 30 degrees to 90 degrees, or a central a rea from 0 degrees to 30 degrees at a frequency of 37.1 Hz. 232 eyes of 232 subjects were included. They were classified into four groups: eyes with o cular hypertension (OHT, n = 54), "preperimetric" glaucomas (n = 73) with g laucomatous optic disc abnormalities but no visual field loss, "perimetric" glaucomas (n = 53) with visual field loss, and 52 normals. Results-In all four groups, temporal contrast senstitivity was almost equal with full field and peripheral, but significantly higher than with central stimulation (p<0.001). With regard to the diagnostic power of the three di fferent stimulus areas, OHTs and glaucomas were found to be best discrimina ted from normals by peripheral stimulation. Conclusions-According to these results, temporal contrast sensitivity seems to be determined by peripheral retinal areas. As the diagnostic power of t he three different stimulus areas was best with the peripheral stimulation, this condition should be used for early glaucoma diagnosis.