ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Perimetric examination plays an important role in the diagnosis of glaucoma, which is among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Several examination methods have been developed for early detection of glaucoma. Among those, short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) is the most widely investigated. In this study, the effects of nuclear opacities on SWAP were examined. METHODS: Lens opacities were divided into cortical and nuclear opacity groups ; each group consisted of fifteen eyes. The eyes studied underwent standard white-on-white perimetry and SWAP exams before and after cataract operation. The differences in the results of the examinations were compared between the two opacity groups. The t test was used for comparing the data. RESULTS: In the cortical opacity group, the average difference between the mean deviation before and after the operation was 5.46dB in white-on-white perimetry and 5.02dB in SWAP. In the nuclear opacity group, the average difference between the mean deviation before and after the operation was 4.01dB in white-on-white perimetry and 10.82dB in SWAP. There was no statistically significant difference in the cortical opacity group (p=0.6575). However, there was a statistically significant difference in the nuclear opacity group (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In clinical situations, more caution should be taken when interpreting the SWAP results of nuclear cataract patients in order to make an accurate decision.