Utility of the Arden grating test in glaucoma screening: high false-positive rate in normals over 50 years of age.

The Arden grating test was administered to 64 subjects between 6 and 82 years of age without ocular pathology, to 20 glaucoma patients, and to 21 ocular hypertensives. The results show an age effect, with significantly higher scores (lower sensitivity) in normal subjects over 50 years of age. In addition, there was no significant difference in performance between age-matched normals, glaucoma patients, and ocular hypertensives on the Arden gratings. The results show a high percentage of false-positives in older normal subjects. The Arden gratings should be used cautiously when one is testing patients over 50 years of age.