Lessons Learned from 23 Years of Experience in Testing Visual Fields of Neurologically Impaired Children

Brendan L Portengen; Yvonne Koenraads; Saskia M Imhof; Giorgio L Porro

doi:10.1080/01658107.2020.1762097

Lessons Learned from 23 Years of Experience in Testing Visual Fields of Neurologically Impaired Children

Neuroophthalmology. 2020 Jul 16;44(6):361-370. doi: 10.1080/01658107.2020.1762097. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Brendan L Portengen¹, Yvonne Koenraads¹, Saskia M Imhof¹, Giorgio L Porro¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

We sought to investigate the reliability of standard conventional perimetry (SCP) in neurologically impaired (NI) children using the examiner-based assessment of reliability scoring system and to determine the difference in time to diagnosis of a visual field defect between SCP and a behavioural visual field (BVF) test. Patient records of 115 NI children were retrospectively analysed. The full field peritest (FFP) had best reliability with 44% 'good' scores versus 22% for Goldmann perimetry (p < .001). The mean age of NI children able to perform SCP was 8.3 years versus 4.6 years for the BVF test (p < .001). Use of the BVF test may significantly reduce time to diagnosis.

Keywords: Cerebral visual impairment (CVI); children; neurological impairment (NI); perimetry.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the ODAS Stichting [2017-03]; Dr. F.P. Fischer Foundation [170511]; Janivo Foundation [2017170]; Rotterdamse Blindenbelangen Foundation [HV/AB/B20170004]. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.