Psychophysical endpoints

While developing neuroprotective agents for managing glaucoma, researchers must be able to demonstrate treatment efficacy by relying on outcome measur es other than intraocular pressure (IOP) and endpoints other than lowering of IOP. Attempts to improve the ability to monitor progressive glaucomatous loss have concentrated on new visual field analysis procedures; new, more sensitive test procedures; and the development of methods to reduce variabi lity. Although none of these approaches has achieved a completely satisfact ory solution, this article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of curr ently available techniques in visual field analysis, new perimetric tests, and current methods of reducing variability. (Eur J Ophthalmol 1999; 9: S48 -S51).