Chapter 11: Principles and Techniques of Perimetry

Question 1

Perimtery

Answer 1

The measurement of the expanse and sensitivity of peripheral vision and the visual field to pinpoint possible defects, typically done one eye at a time.

Functions:
1) Detect abnormalities in visual field
2) Monitor changes over time

Question 2

Visual Field

Answer 2

The full view seen by an eye that is fixating straight ahead
The visual field of each eye overlaps on the nasal side

Question 3

Visual Pathway

Answer 3

The route that is taken by light-generated nerve impulses after they leave the eye

Question 4

Physiological Blind Spot

Answer 4

The sightless “hole” in the normal field corresponding t the optic disc where there are no photoreceptors. This is due to the like of rods or cones in that area.
This is typically located at 15 degrees eccentricity on the 0/180 degree meridian, very close to the central point of fixation.

Question 5

Optic Chiasm

Answer 5

The point behind the eyes in the brain where the 2 optic nerves merge and the axon fibers from the nasal retina of each eye cross to the opposite side.

Question 6

Circles of Eccentricity

Answer 6

A series of concentric circles at intervals of 10 degrees from the point of visual fixation, providing coordinates for mapping the visual field

Question 7

Radial Meridians

Answer 7

Dividing sections radiating from the point of central fixation on a visual field chart

Question 8

Quadrants

Answer 8

One of 4 quarters of the visual field: upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right

Question 9

Horizontal and Vertical Meridians

Answer 9

The radial meridians that divide the visual field into 4 quarters: upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left.
Any point in the visual field is located through denoting the degrees of eccentricity and the meridian.

Question 10

Orientation of a Visual Field Map

Answer 10

Images focused on the retina are INVERTED and REVERSED!
Images that are seen by the patient on temporal side, are actually focused on the nasal portion of the retina. So damage to the superior portion of the retina, will cause a field defect on the nasal portion of their visual field.

Question 11

Types of Perimetry

Answer 11

Kinetic Perimetry- uses a fixed object that moves to different locations
Static Perimetry- uses a fixed object and varies the brightness at each test location

Question 12

Kinetic Perimetry

Answer 12

The type of perimetry that uses a moving the test object of a predetermined size and brightness. The simplest form of this is to move a hand or finger in the visual field of a patient that is fixated on a distance target. and noting when the patient first sees the finger/hand (CVF- Confrontational Visual Fields)
Advantages: simple to understand
Disadvantages: accurate results rely in patient and examiner capabilities

Question 13

Static Perimetry

Answer 13

The type of perimetry that uses a target tat can be varied in size, brightness, and position within the visual field but is only displayed when stationary

Question 14

Isopter

Answer 14

In visual field tests, a line connecting the points denoting areas of equal sensitivity to a stimulus; similar to contour lines denoting equal elevations to a topographic map

Question 15

Scotoma

Answer 15

An area within the field of vision where vision is reduced

Question 16

Shallow Scotoma

Answer 16

A mild visual field defect that appears as a depression in the island of vision

Question 17

Deep Scotoma

Answer 17

A visual field defect more serious than a shallow scotoma; appears as a pit or well in the island of vision

Question 18

Absolute Scotoma

Answer 18

A severe visual field defect in which the largest and brightest stimulus cannot be seen; blindness at that specific location

Question 19

Tangent Screen Test

Answer 19

A type of manual perimetry used for identifying visual field defects within 30 degrees of a fixation point. The patient sits in front of a black screen, with one eye occluded and fixated on a central dot. The examiner will then move a wand with a target on it into the field of vision until the patient notes when they see it.
Advantages: simple to perform
Disadvantages: difficult to replicate all variables between testing

Question 20

Goldmann Perimeter

Answer 20

A bowl-like instrument for testing visual fields which targets (lights) of different sizes and intensities are projected onto a standardized background illumination
Advantages: Reproducible for each testing

Question 21

Suprathreshold Static Perimetry

Answer 21

A type of perimetry in which a light or target of a specific size, brightness, or intensity is chosen so that the patient should be able to see it when it is placed at a particular site in the visual field

Question 22

Decibel

Answer 22

The unit ( one tenth of a log) of measure of the brightness of a test object

Question 23

Threshold Static Perimetry

Answer 23

The type of static perimetry in which the threshold is that level of brightness at which the patient can just detect a test object about half of the time

Question 24

Automated Threshold Perimetry

Answer 24

This is the visual field most commonly used today, and is used to determine the sensitivity ti light at each retinal location.
Advantages: more sensitive at detecting subtle defects, and eliminates technicians performing the exam
Disadvantages: Increase risk of errors and is more difficult for patients to understand, also more difficult for patients with limited mobility

Question 25

Short-Wavelength Automated Perimetry

Answer 25

A perimetry examination using blue light stimuli on a yellow background. SWAP is considered more sensitive than the standard achromatic perimetry (SAP) in identifying early glaucomatous visual field defects

Question 26

Frequency Doubling Technology

Answer 26

A perimetry examination using alternating flickers of black and white striated stimuli into the eye at a very high temporal frequency. This test uses an illusion created by the stimuli to detect visual field defects

Question 27

Generalized Defects

Answer 27

The type of visual field defect in which the field of vision shrinks symmetrically or is depressed evenly across the entire retina. This can be due to glaucoma, retinal ischemia, optic nerve atrophy, and media opacity (cataract).
The visual field will be said to be constricted in this case.

Question 28

Focal Defects

Answer 28

The type of visual field defect in which the local pit or well in the field of vision occurs. These are usually due to a abnormality in the retina, optic nerve or brain.
5 Main Features: Location, Size, Shape, Depth, and Slope of Margins

Question 29

Depression

Answer 29

The type of visual field defect that is like an indentation in the surface of the island of vision

Question 30

Hemianopia

Answer 30

The type of visual field defect in which the right or let half of the field of one eye is missing

Question 31

Quadrantanopia

Answer 31

The type of visual field defect in which a quarter of vision in one eye is missing

Question 32

Homonymous Hemianopia

Answer 32

The type of visual field defect in which the right or left half of the field in both eyes is missing

Question 33

Bitemporal Hemianopia

Answer 33

A visual field defect affecting the temporal half of the field of both eyes, often associated with tumor or lesion in/near optic chiasm.

Question 34

Arcuate Scotoma

Answer 34

An arc-shaped area of reduced sensitivity, or blindness, in the visual field
Also known as Bjerrum Scotoma

Question 35

Paracentral Scotoma

Answer 35

A relatively blind area in the visual field, smaller than an arcuate scotoma, near the fixation point above or below the horizontal axis

Question 36

Nasal Step

Answer 36

The type of visual field defect that, when plotted, appears as a step-like loss of vision at the outer limit of the nasal field

Question 37

Central Scotoma

Answer 37

A visual field defect in the center of the field

Question 38

Calibration

Answer 38

The testing of any device against a known standard; for example, the illumination of a perimeter device