[Clinical advantages of colorimetric exploration in the early diagnosis of glaucomatous neuropathy].

AIM

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate acquired color vision defects in the early stages of primary glaucoma and in patients at risk for glaucoma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma and ocular hypertension were examined with the IF-2 anomaloscope. The Rayleigh equation and the Moreland equation were tested. We studied the relationships between color vision defects and the other tested variables.

RESULTS

We found the mean value of the setting range of the Moreland equation significantly increased in all tested groups. Color vision disturbances were found in 57% of eyes with glaucoma and in 31% of eyes with ocular hypertension. We found a positive correlation between the blue-green colour vision defects and the perimetric changes in the glaucomatous eyes. These results indicate a decrease in color discriminating sensitivity in the short wavelength part of the visible spectrum in patients with glaucoma as well as in patients with ocular hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Blue-yellow color vision testing with the anomaloscope may serve as an additional test in the early diagnosis of glaucoma but the absence of dyschromatopsia does not exclude the disease.