Humphrey Visual Field Test, Progression Software and Relevance in Glaucoma Management

Glaucoma

Abstract

Introduction: Glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness, is a chronic progressive optic neuropathy with characteristic optic nerve head changes and visual field defects[1]. The goal of glaucoma management is to prevent progressive loss of visual function as it relates to quality of life[2,7]. Visual function is usually assessed by visual field analysis (perimetry), more commonly using the standard automated perimetry (SAP)[7] and in glaucoma the central visual field is assessed. Accurate understanding and interpretation of baseline and subsequent follow-up perimetry is therefore key in the determination of stage of glaucoma at diagnosis and monitoring of progression of the disease[3]. Manual comparisons and interpretation of serial visual field tests is fraught with challenges of non-standardisation which Zeiss Meditec sought to reduce through the development of progression software for the Humphrey’s visual field analyzer. Proper understanding and interpretation of the tests with all its indices and analysis results is of prime importance in its proper application in clinical management. This presentation seeks to highlight the meaning of the Humphrey’s visual field test, the progression software packages and its use in glaucoma management.