[Sensitivity of noise field campimetry as a screening method for glaucoma].

The glaucoma patient can perceive his or her visual field loss subjectively with snow field campimetry with the Tübingen electronic campimeter (TEC). The sensitivity of this new method of examination for glaucoma has not previously been evaluated. We were interested in finding whether absolute and relative scotomas could be detected with such high probability that snow field campimetry could be used as a screening method for the early detection of glaucoma. Analysis of the severity of scotoma is not possible, so that snow field perimetry can indeed by regarded as a screening procedure. A total of 76 eyes of 76 patients with glaucoma and stage I-IV visual field loss and 20 eyes of 20 patients with ocular hypertension were examined with threshold determining static perimetry (Octopus or Humphrey perimeter) and with the snow field of the TEC in controlled conditions. A qualitative comparison was drawn to evaluate how often a pathologic or normal finding was confirmed by snow field campimetry: of the 76 eyes affected by scotoma, 65 eyes (85.5%) showed pathologic findings consistent with the result of snow field campimetry, and 11 eyes showed normal findings. The visual field loss was 63.6% for glaucomatous visual field loss stage I: 90.9% for glaucomatous visual field loss stage II, and 95% for visual field loss stages III and IV. For 16 of the 20 eyes with ocular hypertensions normal findings were reported with snow field campimetry. Snow field campimetry is suitable for use as a quick screening procedure, but only for absolute glaucomatous scotomas.