Nerve fiber analyzer and short-wavelength automated perimetry in glaucoma suspects - A pilot study

Purpose: To test the relationship between the results of short-wavelength a utomatic perimetry (SWAP) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements with scanning laser polarimetry (Nerve Fiber Analyzer, NFA) in age-matched normal subjects, glaucoma suspects, and early glaucoma patients. Design: Case-control study, Participants and Methods: Thirty-eight normal subjects, 32 glaucoma suspect s, and 14 early glaucoma patients were recruited. All subjects underwent RN FL assessment by NFA, achromatic visual field testing (24-2 threshold), and repeated SWAP (24-2 threshold blue-on-yellow). Main Outcome Measures: Mean deviation (MD) of visual field testing and RNFL values were obtained. Results: Glaucoma suspects were divided into two groups according to their SWAP results: high risk (with SWAP abnormalities) and low risk (with normal SWAP result). No statistically significant difference in SWAP MD and RNFL values were observed between normal and low-risk groups (P > 0.05), but the se values were found to be significantly lower in high-risk and early glauc oma groups (P < 0.01). Conclusions: This study suggests that RNFL examination by NFA may be a usef ul test for the early detection of glaucomatous damage of glaucoma suspects . It appears to provide agreement with SWAP abnormalities and is more sensi tive than conventional standard automated perimetry, Ophthalmology 2000;107 :2101-2104 0 2000 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.