Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Year
: 2014  |  Volume : 62  |  Issue : 9  |  Page : 974-

Full field perimetry in occipital lobe lesion


N Venugopal1, G Kummararaj2, Sherin Kummararaj3,  
1 Neuro-Ophthalmology clinic and Glaucoma Service, AG Eye Hospital, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Anterior Segment Surgical Centre, AG Eye Hospital, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India
3 Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Perimetry Center, AG Eye Hospital, Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India

Correspondence Address:
N Venugopal
Flat No. 19, Mathuram Apartments, Puthur, Trichy,Tamil Nadu
India




How to cite this article:
Venugopal N, Kummararaj G, Kummararaj S. Full field perimetry in occipital lobe lesion .Indian J Ophthalmol 2014;62:974-974


How to cite this URL:
Venugopal N, Kummararaj G, Kummararaj S. Full field perimetry in occipital lobe lesion . Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 2014 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];62:974-974
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?2014/62/9/974/143969


Full Text

Kedar et al.[1] in their article titled "Visual fields in neuro-ophthalmology" have mentioned that standard automated perimetry (SAP) has replaced Goldmann perimetry (GP) in clinical practice amidst fears that peripheral visual field defects may be missed. They have highlighted the fact that GP still has a role in neuro-ophthalmological clinical practice.

The pattern of visual field defects help in localizing site of the lesion in visual pathways. Limitation [2] of static perimetry are decreased efficiency in delineating complex lesion that extend into peripheral field, and localizing lesions within the occipital lobe. In occipital lobe lesion structural-perimetric correlation is less certain. A routine assessment of central 30 o with SAP may miss homonymous peripheral scotomas. So a full-field perimetry (SAP with GP) is indicated in this lesion.

Pituitary tumors and craniopharyngiomas may occasionally require full-field perimetry during initial evaluation or follow-up. Hormone secreting pituitary tumors may cause steroid induced open-angle glaucoma. Such patients may present with glaucomatous and neuro-ophthalmological features causing diagnostic dilemma. Choudhari et al.[3] described a case of 43-year-old male patient who had pituitary adenoma, normal intraocular pressure (IOP), open angles, thin bleb, and thin neuroretinal rim. Probable diagnosis is hormone secreting pituitary tumor with steroid-induced glaucoma. Full-field perimetry at initial workup would have provided a better picture in this patient.

Automated combined kinetic and static perimetry [2] may miss very small defects in the central 30 o . Brain and eye's adaptive strategy may be an explanation for this anomaly. Microperimetry (MP) is capable of eliminating adaptive strategy (eccentric fixation, fixation instability) thereby unmasking early scotomas seen in glaucomatous (central) field defect. Ratra et al.[4] in their article titled "Comparison between Humphrey Field analyzer and Microperimetry 1 in normal and glaucoma subjects" have mentioned that MP shows high sensitivity in detecting field defects in contrast to the conventional perimetry which shows limited precision, repeatability, and low sensitivity to small scotoma especially in the presence of low vision. The fixation analysis and surveillance of MP is far superior with auto-tracking of eye movements and correction for loss of fixation. SAP is the current standard in glaucoma diagnosis. Upto 20-40% of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss occurs prior to scotoma detection. Cerebral plasticity and RGC plasticity may be an explanation for this anomaly. Peripheral scotoma may have a potentiating effect on the central reserved visual field. Armaly-Drance technique (ADT) uses Goldmann type perimeter with supra-threshold static perimetry to test for central field defects and both supra-threshold static and kinetic perimetry to examine the peripheral field with emphasis on the nasal and temporal periphery. This technique revealed a high sensitivity and specificity which make it suitable for clinical and survey screening. An additional modification is to use V4e isoptre nasally to rule out crowding of peripheral nasal isoptres. Probably combination of ADT and MP may unmask early scotoma.

To conclude, a combination of full-field perimetry [5] and MP may avoid diagnostic pitfalls in neuro-ophthalmology-glaucoma clinical practice. Probably current preferred perimetric practice pattern requires re-evaluation.

References

1Kedar S, Ghate D, Corbett JJ. Visual fields in neuro - ophthalmology. Indian J Ophthalmol 2011;59:103-9.
2Pineles SL, Volpe NJ, Miller-Ellis E, Galetta SL, Sankar PS, Shindler KS, et al. Automated combined kinetic and static perimetry: An alternative to standard perimetry in patients with neuro-ophthalmic disease and glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol 2006;124:363-9.
3Choudhari NS, Neog A, Fudnawala V, George R. Cupped disc with normal intraocular pressure: The long road to avoid misdiagnosis. Indian J Opthalmol 2011;59:491-7.
4Ratra V, Ratra D, Gupta M, Vaitheeswaran K. Comparison between Humphrey Field Analyzer and Microperimeter 1 in normal and glaucoma subjects. Oman J Ophthalmol 2012;5:97-102.
5Kummararaj G, Balaji V, Kummararaj S, Venugopal NP. Full field perimetry for evaluation of glaucomatous (presumed) cup. Indian J Ophthalmol 2012;60:581-2.