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 automatic 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 suspects, and 14 early glaucoma patients were recruited. All subjects underwent RNFL 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 these values were found to be significantly lower in high-risk and early glaucoma groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that RNFL examination by NFA may be a useful test for the early detection of glaucomatous damage of glaucoma suspects. It appears to provide agreement with SWAP abnormalities and is more sensitive than conventional standard automated perimetry.