Scanning laser entoptic perimetry for the screening of macular and peripheral retinal disease

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of scanning laser entoptic perime try as a noninvasive platform for screening for retinal damage in visually asymptomatic patients within the central 120 degrees (diameter) of vision. Design: A masked study comparing entoptic perimetry with fundus photographs . Setting: The Shiley Eye Center and the AIDS Ocular Research Unit at the Uni versity of California, San Diego. Patients: Fifty-eight patients recruited during ophthalmologic visits for t reatment or follow-up of ocular disease. Measurements: For each testing session, we compared the presence of a distu rbance in the entoptic stimulus with the presence of retinal disease within the central 120 degrees of vision, centered on the fovea. Results: Scanning laser entoptic perimetry has a sensitivity and specificit y of more than 90%, a positive predictive value of 100%, and a negative pre dictive value of 89% for screening retinal lesions within the central 120 d egrees diameter of vision. Conclusion: Scanning laser entoptic perimetry may be an effective and inexp ensive screening test for diagnosing retinal disease in hospitals and commu nity clinics.