Relationship between visual acuity and nasal field thresholds in patients with temporal hemianopia.

The area of nasal field found with Goldmann static perimetry and the sum of decibels by Humphrey threshold 30/2 was calculated in normal subjects and in subjects with chiasmatic lesions, temporal field loss, and normal or abnormal visual acuity. There was a significant reduction of the mean of the area of the nasal field by static Goldmann perimetry and of the mean of decibels in the nasal field on Humphrey perimetry in patients with temporal field loss and chiasmatic lesions, as compared with normal controls. There were significant correlations of nasal field depression (Goldmann) and visual acuity and for sums of nasal field decibels (Humphrey) and visual acuity. Thus, a generally depressed nasal field was found in patients with chiasmatic lesions and temporal field loss when accompanied by lowering of visual acuity. This would appear to be the earliest stage of nasal field involvement.