FDT is efficient for monitoring functional damage in OAG patients

Frequency doubling technology (FDT) is successful in monitoring functional damage in the standard automated perimetry (SAP)-normal hemifield in eyes with open-angle glaucoma (OAG), states a study in the Journal of Glaucoma.

Dr Suguru Nakagawa et al. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan, performed the investigation on 39 OAG patients with low to normal intraocular pressure (IOP).

The Humphrey Field Analyzer was used to measure FDT perimetry with the N-30 full threshold protocol and SAP. This was used along with the 30-2 Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm-standard protocol for at least 3 years in all patients.

A linear mixed model was employed to measure time courses of the mean of the FDT threshold values and mean total deviations (TDs) in SAP-normal and abnormal fields.

The findings demonstrated a significantly negative change in the mean FDT threshold values in the SAP-normal hemifield. However, the mean changes in TD values by SAP were not statistically significant.

SAP-abnormal hemifield experienced a significantly more negative change in the mean TD values, but FDT threshold values presented with no significant differences between the two hemifields.