Cassia Senger1, Marcelo Jordão Lopes da Silva1, Carlos Gustavo De Moraes2, André Messias1, Jayter Silva Paula3. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School- University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 - 12°. Andar. Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Ribeirão Preto Medical School- University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 - 12°. Andar. Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. jspaula@fmrp.usp.br.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Visual search is a critical skill for several daily tasks and may be compromised in patients with impaired vision. The objective of this study was to study the relationships between exploratory visual search performance (EVSP) visual field (VF) sensitivity in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Primary open-angle glaucoma patients (POAG; n = 29) and healthy (Control; n = 28) individuals with best corrected visual acuity better than 0.2 logMAR underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including Humphrey VF tests (24-2 SITA-Standard), and a monocular exploratory visual search digit-based task performed using a software that quantifies the time spent to find a targert on a random array of digits distributed on nine sequential screens. The screens were divided into five areas to topographically match with five VF sectors. RESULTS: As expected, POAG eyes had worse VF mean deviation (MD) sensitivity and EVSP than Controls (MD - 8.02 ± 7.88 dB vs - 1.43 ± 1.50 dB, p < 0.0001; and total EVSP time 106.42 ± 59.64 s vs 52.75 ± 19.07 s, p < 0.0001). MD sensitivity of both groups significantly correlated with total EVSP time (POAG r = - 0.45, p = 0.01; and Control r = 0.37, p = 0.049). A significant relationship was observed between EVSP (individual time) and both visual acuity (p = 0.006) and glaucoma diagnosis (p = 0.005). The mean sensitivity of the peripheral VF areas of the POAG group showed significant correlation with the individual search time in the corresponding spatial areas, except in the peripheral superior temporal area (r = - 0.35, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that POAG patients' EVSP is impaired in topographically-correspondent VF areas with sensitivity loss. Visual search may be considered as a measure of impairment of daily activities in glaucoma patients, if further similar tests using binocular conditions corroborate our findings.
BACKGROUND:Visual search is a critical skill for several daily tasks and may be compromised in patients with impaired vision. The objective of this study was to study the relationships between exploratory visual search performance (EVSP) visual field (VF) sensitivity in patients with glaucoma. METHODS: Primary open-angle glaucomapatients (POAG; n = 29) and healthy (Control; n = 28) individuals with best corrected visual acuity better than 0.2 logMAR underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination, including Humphrey VF tests (24-2 SITA-Standard), and a monocular exploratory visual search digit-based task performed using a software that quantifies the time spent to find a targert on a random array of digits distributed on nine sequential screens. The screens were divided into five areas to topographically match with five VF sectors. RESULTS: As expected, POAG eyes had worse VF mean deviation (MD) sensitivity and EVSP than Controls (MD - 8.02 ± 7.88 dB vs - 1.43 ± 1.50 dB, p < 0.0001; and total EVSP time 106.42 ± 59.64 s vs 52.75 ± 19.07 s, p < 0.0001). MD sensitivity of both groups significantly correlated with total EVSP time (POAG r = - 0.45, p = 0.01; and Control r = 0.37, p = 0.049). A significant relationship was observed between EVSP (individual time) and both visual acuity (p = 0.006) and glaucoma diagnosis (p = 0.005). The mean sensitivity of the peripheral VF areas of the POAG group showed significant correlation with the individual search time in the corresponding spatial areas, except in the peripheral superior temporal area (r = - 0.35, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that POAG patients' EVSP is impaired in topographically-correspondent VF areas with sensitivity loss. Visual search may be considered as a measure of impairment of daily activities in glaucomapatients, if further similar tests using binocular conditions corroborate our findings.
Authors: Richard P Mills; Donald L Budenz; Paul P Lee; Robert J Noecker; John G Walt; Lisa R Siegartel; Stacy J Evans; John J Doyle Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2006-01 Impact factor: 5.258
Authors: André Messias; Antonio Augusto Velasco e Cruz; Sonia Jecov Schallenmüller; Susanne Trauzettel-Klosinski Journal: Arq Bras Oftalmol Date: 2008 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 0.872