A rapid technique for kinetic visual field determination in young children and adults with central retinal lesions

Abstract

Young children (in general) and adults with central retinal lesions are often difficult to assess visually. Because of fixational drift and/or eccentric viewing, visual fields are particularly hard to measure in these populations. We describe a relatively simple and rapid technique to determine visual fields in these two groups using commercially available equipment.

With the Canon Fundus Photoperimeter, a 45^° non-mydriatic infrared fundus camera-perimeter combination, we could directly view the fundus and relate stimulus location relative to fixation at the time of stimulus detection. A positive response was either through an audible buzzer or a fixational saccade. The video display terminal test record was recorded on a standard VCR (VHS or Betamax). After all data were collected, the tape could be replayed and the visual field plotted using a simple graphical technique. Both the test itself and the data analysis prove to be rapid and simple.