A study of the value of the central and peripheral isoptres in assessing visual field progression in the presence of paracentral scotoma measurements.

The visual field records of 45 eyes of 45 patients were evaluated to determine whether examination of the peripheral field of vision in patients with glaucoma and field defects adds useful information about the progression of visual field damage. The central scotoma mass, foveal sensitivity, and the central and peripheral mass of the visual field were quantified from measurements on the Tübinger perimeter. Most of the information on visual field progression was contained in the scotoma mass. When both scotoma mass and foveal sensitivity were known, central or peripheral isoptres did not add statistically significant information on progression. Evaluation of scotomas and assessment of central isoptres or of foveal sensitivity made perimetry of the peripheral isoptres redundant. The appearance of fresh peripheral scotomas or the quantification of changes in peripheral scotomas was not examined in the current study, and they would of course be important when they occurred.