AUTOMATED PERIMETRY IN RETINITIS-PIGMENTOSA USING THE OCTOPUS PROGRAM-N1

The use of automated perimetry in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has not be come widespread. This is due to what is considered as a relative lack of automated programs designed to evaluate in the entire visual field both discrete abnormalities and pronounced defects, using a reasonably short procedure. Three patients suffering from different forms of ret initis pigmentosa were evaluated by means of the new Octopus program N 1. In two patients, visual fields were also evaluated by Goldmann kine tic perimetry. Automated perimetry demonstrated the characteristic pat tern of the visual field defects of retinitis pigmentosa as satisfacto rily as Goldmann perimetry. Moreover, it provided better analysis of t he central visual field, revealing partially preserved areas which wer e missed by routine kinetic perimetry. Evaluation with the Octopus pro gram N1 required much less time than with regular 4-2-2 programs for a utomated perimetry, because of a unique combination of screening and q uantified strategies. The collected data also emphasize the clinical v alue of examination programs assessing the visual field beyond the cen tral 30 degrees, specially in the area of the temporal crescent.