Abstract
Objective: To determine the common visual field defects in open angle glaucoma
patients (POAG).
Patients and Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study design compared the
distribution of visual field defects of 618 POAG eyes (applanation intraocular
pressure >22 mm Hg, glaucomatous optic neuropathy including cup-to-disc ratio ≥
0.4, optic disc asymmetry ≥ 0.2, or notching or focal thinning of the optic disc rim,
early glaucomatous visual field defect and aged 40-80 years) from March 2003 to
March 2005 at the University of Graz, Eye clinic, Austria and University of Tabriz
Medical Sciences, Iran. Visual field was determined by standard automated perimetry
(SAP). Variables analyzed included visual field defect, mean deviation (MD) and
pattern standard deviation (PSD).
Results: A total of 618 eyes with open angle glaucoma examined over 2 years were
evaluated. The mean age of study subjects was 67.21±9.8 years (range 40-80 years).
There were no statistically significant difference between age and visual field defects
(p<0.7). The most common visual field defect was Nasal and peripheral scotoma
beyond 20° of fixation (40.8 %) at the Tabriz patients (P=0.006) and Nasal and
arcuate visual field defect at Graz center. Perimetry parameters for mean deviation
(MD; p<0.0001) and pattern standard deviation (PSD; p<0.0001) were significantly
worse in the Tabriz group.
Conclusion: The most common visual field defect was nasal and peripheral scotoma
beyond 20° of fixation at the Tabriz, Nasal and arcuate visual field defect at Graz
patients. (Rawal Med J 2008;33:98-100).

Key words: Glaucoma, perimetry, Visual field defect.