Comparison of frequency doubling perimetry with Humphrey visual field analysis in a glaucoma practice

PURPOSE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of frequency doubling perimetry with Humphrey visual field testing used as the gold standard. METHODS: Frequency doubling perimetry and Humphrey visual field testing (24-2) were performed on 29 consecutive patients in a glaucoma practice. Data for the right eye were used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: For the frequency doubling perimetry in screening mode, and with an abnormal glaucoma hemifield test used as the gold standard, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 89.3%, 81.5%, or 75.0% for the presence of mild, moderate, or severe relative defects, respectively. Similar results were found with the use of mean deviation ( P < .05) to define Humphrey visual field defects. For frequency doubling perimetry in threshold mode, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 93.4% with the presence of any defect ( P < .05) used as the criterion for an abnormal case, and an abnormal glaucoma hemifield test as the gold standard. In all cases, the threshold mode detected defects better than the screening mode. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency doubling perimetry showed a high sensitivity and specificity for detecting visual field abnormalities, especially when threshold strategies were used.