Frequency doubling technology perimetry with the Humphrey Matrix 30-2 test.

PURPOSE

To assess the Humphrey Matrix 30-2 test in detecting functional glaucomatous damage.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One eye in each of 60 healthy individuals, 108 patients with ocular hypertension (OHT), and 150 patients with preperimetric (48) or perimetric (102) high-tension primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) were considered. Visual fields were assessed by the standard automated perimetry (SAP) Humphrey Field Analyzer 30-2, frequency doubling technology (FDT) N-30, and Humphrey Matrix 30-2 tests. Significantly abnormal points in the pattern deviation probability plot, testing time, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the FDT tests were evaluated.

RESULTS

FDT revealed a significantly greater percentage of depressed points than did SAP in OHT and preperimetric POAG eyes. The FDT-N-30 test showed a significantly greater percentage of areas with P < 5% in the OHT, preperimetric POAG, and early POAG groups. The Matrix-30-2 test provided an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve slightly lower than the FDT-N-30 test in the preperimetric POAG group, and significantly greater in the perimetric POAG group.

CONCLUSIONS

FDT perimetry appeared more sensitive than SAP in detecting early glaucomatous VF loss. The FDT-N-30 test showed a slightly higher ability to detect early glaucomatous damage in patients at risk for the development of glaucoma, whereas the Matrix-30-2 test provided a more detailed characterization of the glaucomatous VF loss pattern, although it required 30% more time.