Variability of automated visual fields in clinically stable glaucoma patients.

The total variability of the visual field was measured in 20 patients with open-angle glaucoma who appeared to be clinically stable and well controlled on medical therapy. All patients had at least four visual fields performed on the Octopus 201 perimeter with at least 12 months follow-up since their first visual field. The four most recently performed visual fields were analyzed. Two different methods for calculating total variability were used. One was based on the variance of the threshold determinations and the other was based on the range. The average total variability per subject was 2.8 decibels (db) using the variance-based calculation and 5.1 db using the range-based calculation. Ninety-five percent of the test locations had a variability of less than 6 db by the variance-based calculation method and 13 db by the range-based calculation method. We discuss the possibility of using this type of data to develop criteria for detection of progressive visual field loss in glaucoma.