Analysis of visual fields: history, advances and importance in the management of glaucoma

• Published in: Hong Kong medical journal = Xianggang yi xue za zhi 2023-04, Vol.29 (2), p.187-188
• Main Author: Yuen, N S Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Automation; Eye diseases; Field study; Glaucoma; Glaucoma - therapy; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Humans; Hypertension; Intraocular Pressure; Medical personnel; Nervous system; Optic nerve; Optics; Patients; Sleep apnea; Visual acuity; Visual Fields
• ISSN: 1024-2708; 2226-8707
• DOI: 10.12809/hkmj-hkmms202304

Visual field testing is one method that clinicians and ophthalmologists use to measure how much vision one has in either eye and how much vision loss may have occurred over time.1 Evaluation of peripheral visual field was first performed more than 2000 years ago, whereas quantitative measurement of the visual field has been utilised for around 200 years. Some common clinical conditions that require visual field assessment are listed as follows: * Glaucoma * Various retinal diseases (eg, retinal vascular occlusion secondary to common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and retinitis pigmentosa) * Multiple sclerosis * Thyroid eye disease * Optic nerve diseases (eg, optic neuritis, anterior ischemia optic neuropathy) * Central nervous system tumours (such as a brain tumour that may be pressing on the visual pathway of the brain, eg, pituitary tumour) * Central nervous system vascular diseases (eg, stroke) * Long-term use of certain medications (eg, hydroxychloroquine) * Ptosis, where assessment of a visual field defect is required More recently in the development of automated visual field testing, advances have been made to make these tests and procedures more standardised, automated, accurate, precise, efficient, quantitative, repeatable, statistically reliable, and easy to use. Together with the fact that individual test result reliability relies heavily on physical status and consistent performance of the patient, visual field testing continues to be perceived by many patients as one of the most demanding tests.