Impaired motion sensitivity as a predictor of subsequent field loss in glaucoma suspects: the Roscommon Glaucoma Study.

AIM To determine if impaired motion sensitivity is a significant predictor of subsequent field loss in glaucoma suspects. METHOD A population based prospective study; a 5 year follow up of all glaucoma suspects who had been identified from a population based random sample survey in the west of Ireland. 78 glaucoma suspects whose visual field function was annually measured by Henson CFS 2000 and for whom data on family history of glaucoma, ocular status, and motion impairment had been recorded. Visual field loss was defined as Henson visual field survival score of 94 or less. RESULTS 18 people developed visual field loss in at least one eye. Motion impairment at baseline was associated with a 2-18 times greater risk of development of the visual field loss (p < 0.001). This association was independent of sex, family history of glaucoma, intraocular pressure, and C/D ratio at baseline. The Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis confirmed the above results after adjustment for age and the C/D ratio. CONCLUSION Motion impairment is an independent predictor of visual field loss in glaucoma suspects, although it is not clear how long motion impairment precedes visual field loss.