ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the quantitative changes of visual field in patients with arterial hypertension using standard white-on-white perimetry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients (f : m = 33 : 29) with arterial hypertension without damage in end-organs were included and divided into three groups: Group 1: systolic/diastolic blood pressure: 120 - 139/80 - 89 mm Hg (n = 18, f : m = 14 : 4, mean age 55 +/- 13 years), group 2: systolic/diastolic blood pressure: 140 - 159/90 - 99 mm Hg (n = 24; f : m = 9 : 15, mean age 55 +/- 12 years), group 3: systolic/diastolic blood pressure: 160 - 179/100 - 109 mm Hg (n = 20; f : m = 10 : 10, mean age 55 +/- 12 years). We compared these patients with an ophthalmological and healthy control group (systolic/diastolic blood pressure < 120/80 mm Hg, n = 20, f:m = 12 : 8, mean age 55 +/- 9 years). Beside the ophthalmological examinations (visual acuity, refraction, intraocular pressure, slit lamp and fundus examination) quantitative analysis of visual field by Octopus 1-2-3 perimeter was performed. Different parameters (mean deviation (MD), mean sensitivity (MS), loss variance (LV), pattern standard deviation (PSD) and the test-duration) were statistically compared using the Mann-Whitney-U test and the Wilcoxon test. RESULTS: Hypertensive retinopathy grade I - II was found in 10 patients with arterial hypertension. Statistic analysis showed no significant difference of MD, MS, LV, PSD and test duration between the patients with arterial hypertension and the control group (Mann-Whitney-U test: p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference between the three hypertonic groups (Mann-Whitney-U test: p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The examination of visual field using standard achromatic automated perimetry based on investigation of the parvocellular system. Arterial hypertension, however, does not damage this parvocellular system enough to assess disturbances in the white-on-white perimetry. Further studies are necessary to clarify the value of Frequency Doubling Perimetry, which is based on the detection of early damage of the magnocellular system.
