Treffer: Subjective perception of visual field defects using random noise-moving images in patients with glaucoma: A comparison of computer graphics and analog noises.

Purpose: Random noise-moving images (noises) can make glaucoma patients with no subjective symptoms aware of visual field abnormalities. To explore this concept, we developed a noise using computer graphics (CG) and investigated the difference in the subjective perception of visual field abnormalities between CG and conventional analog noises.
Methods: We enrolled individuals with glaucoma (205 eyes), preperimetric glaucoma (PPG; 19 eyes), and normal eyes (35 eyes). For a CG noise, a series of still images was made by randomly selecting five monochromatic tones on 2-mm square dots, and these images were drawn at 60 frames per second (fps) to create a noise-moving image. The participants were asked to describe their perceived shadows on a paper. The results were categorized as follows based on the pattern deviation probability map of the Humphrey field analyzer (HFA): "agreement," "partial agreement," "disagreement," and "no response." The glaucoma stage was classified into four stages, from M1 to M4, based on the HFA's mean deviation.
Result: The detection rates (agreement and partial agreement) were 80.5% and 65.4% for the CG and analog noises, respectively, with CG noise showing a significantly higher detection rate in all glaucoma eyes (P < 0.001). The detection rates tended to increase as the glaucoma stage progressed, and in Stage M3, these were 93.9% and 78.8% for the CG and analog noises, respectively. The PPG eyes did not exhibit subjective abnormalities for both noises. The specificity values were 97.1% and 100% for the CG and analog noises, respectively.
Conclusion: The CG noise is more effective than the analog noise in evaluating the subjective perception of visual field abnormalities in patients with glaucoma.
(Copyright: © 2024 Inoue et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Arata Inoue has a patent for a method and device for diagnosing visual field abnormalities (patent No. JP7339900), as mentioned in this article. There are no other relevant declarations relating to employment, consultancy, further patents, products in development or marketed products. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. Eiko Koike: none. Naoyuki Maeda: Paid consultancy: BVI Medical, CooperVision, Tomey Corporation. Research Grant: Senjyu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Topcon Corporation. Honoraria for speaking: Alcon, Inc., Bausch + Lomb, HOYA Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Menicon Co., Ltd., Nikon Corporation, Novartis International AG, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Topcon Corporation. Chota Matsumoto: Paid consultancy: CREWT Medical Systems, Inc., Topcon Corporation. Honoraria for speaking: CREWT Medical Systems, Inc., Topcon Corporation. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. These do not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.