A new visual field test in empty sella syndrome: Rarebit perimetry

PURPOSE. Several visual field defects can be seen in empty sella syndrome (ESS). In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate the visual field defects in patients with ESS by rarebit perimetry and to compare the results with Humphrey perimetry. METHODS. Left eyes of 13 patients with ESS and left eyes of 15 age-matched normal subjects were included in the study. Visual field testing was performed by Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer II (Fast-pack 30-2 strategy) and rarebit perimetry (regular test). Statistical analysis was performed by independent-samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and Pearson correlation test. RESULTS. Humphrey perimetry mean deviation was -3.67 dB in control group and -6.06 dB in patients with ESS (p=0.12). Mean hit rate calculated by rarebit test was 91.8% in control group and 75.9% in cases with ESS (p=0.005). Area under ROC curve was 0.756 for Humphrey visual field test and 0.827 for rarebit hit rate (p=0.59). There was a significant correlation between rarebit hit rate and Humphrey visual field test mean deviation (r=0.755, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS. Rarebit perimetry correlates significantly with Humphrey perimeter in detecting visual field defects related with ESS and has a higher sensitivity and specificity. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2008; 18: 628-32)