Comparison of a Novel Head-mounted Perimeter vs. the Humphrey Field Analyzer.

Purpose: Perimetry is a critical tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of glaucomatous visual field defects. The Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) is a large, relatively expensive device that does not normally allow for examination outside of the clinic, and it can be ergonomically difficult to tolerate for some patients. The present study compared the novel Smart System Virtual Reality (SSVR) perimetric headset test to that of the HFA in a group of patients with glaucoma.

Design: Prospective comparative study.

Subjects: Seventy-two eyes from 36 patients with glaucoma recruited at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Methods: Patients completed both HFA and SSVR visual field tests on the same day, with the order of tests randomized. After completing both visual field tests, subjects completed a survey regarding their subjective experience using each perimeter. Visual fields were analyzed using a linear mixed model to assess differences between devices accounting for intereye correlation and Bland-Altman analysis.

Main outcome measures: Primary outcome measures included mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and test duration.

Results: No statistically significant difference in MD was observed between the SSVR (-7.17 ± 6.36 dB) and HFA (-6.88 ± 6.78 dB; P = 0.859). Statistically significant differences in PSD were observed between the SSVR (4.26 ± 2.37 dB) and HFA (6.38 ± 4.51 dB; P < 0.001) and test duration (323.44 ± 72.27 seconds and 372.20 ± 61.44 seconds, respectively; P < 0.001). Subjectively, the SSVR was the preferred perimeter by 88.5% of patients.

Conclusions: The SSVR headset is a novel visual field testing device that produces similar results to the HFA with a shorter testing duration. The SSVR was the preferred perimeter by the majority of patients. Future study is required to determine if the SSVR can identify visual field progression.

Financial disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.