rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:225-230 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.129726
  • Original Article
    • Clinical science

Assessing visual fields for driving in patients with paracentral scotomata

  1. C M Chisholm1,2,
  2. F G Rauscher2,
  3. D C Crabb2,
  4. L N Davies3,
  5. M C Dunne3,
  6. D F Edgar2,
  7. J A Harlow2,
  8. M James-Galton4,
  9. A Petzold4,
  10. G T Plant4,5,
  11. A C Viswanathan6,
  12. G J Underwood7,
  13. J L Barbur2
  1. 1
    Department of Optometry, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
  2. 2
    Applied Vision Research Centre, The Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Vision Sciences, City University, London, UK
  3. 3
    Ophthalmic Research Group, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
  4. 4
    Vision Research Group, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK
  5. 5
    Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  6. 6
    Glaucoma Research Unit, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
  7. 7
    School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
  1. Dr C Chisholm, Department of Optometry, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK; c.m.chisholm{at}bradford.ac.uk
  • Accepted 14 September 2007
  • Published Online First 25 October 2007

Abstract

Background: The binocular Esterman visual field test (EVFT) is the current visual field test for driving in the UK. Merging of monocular field tests (Integrated Visual Field, IVF) has been proposed as an alternative for glaucoma patients.

Aims: To examine the level of agreement between the EVFT and IVF for patients with binocular paracentral scotomata, caused by either ophthalmological or neurological conditions, and to compare outcomes with useful field of view (UFOV) performance, a test of visual attention thought to be important in driving.

Methods: 60 patients with binocular paracentral scotomata but normal visual acuity (VA) were recruited prospectively. Subjects completed and were classified as “pass” or “fail” for the EVFT, IVF and UFOV.

Results: Good agreement occurred between the EVFT and IVF in classifying subjects as “pass” or “fail” (kappa = 0.84). Classifications disagreed for four subjects with paracentral scotomata of neurological origin (three “passed” IVF yet “failed” EVFT). Mean UFOV scores did not differ between those who “passed” and those who “failed” both visual field tests (p = 0.11). Agreement between the visual field tests and UFOV was limited (EVFT kappa = 0.22, IVF kappa 0.32).

Conclusions: Although the IVF and EVFT agree well in classifying visual fields with regard to legal fitness to drive in the UK, the IVF “passes” some individuals currently classed as unfit to drive due to paracentral scotomata of non-glaucomatous origin. The suitability of the UFOV for assessing crash risk in those with visual field loss is questionable.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Funding: The Driving and Vision Research Team was supported by a grant from the Department for Transport, UK, project reference PPAD 9/31/106. The individual members of the team are listed above.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. All Versions of this Article:
    1. bjo.2007.129726v1
    2. 92/2/225 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Social bookmarking

Register for free content


Free sample
 This recent issue is free to all users to allow everyone the opportunity to see the full scope and typical content of BJO.
View free sample issue >>

Free archive
The full back archive is now available for BJO. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006, back to volume 1 issue 1.
Register to access the free archive >>

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.