Colour vision screening in glaucoma: the Tritan Album and other simple tests

Abstract

Results from simple colour vision tests used for the detection of the Type III colour vision deficiency in glaucoma and ocular hypertension are presented. We assessed 49 patients with primary open angle glaucoma, 16 ocular hypertensives, 54 age matched normals and 50 young normal observers using six established tests and the recently introduced Tritan Album. This test was introduced specifically for acquired colour vision deficiencies. Results show in general that individual tests have low sensitivity and poor screening efficiency. The best screening efficiency was achieved by the City University Colour Vision Test and the AO HRR plate test, no acquired tritan defects were identified by the Farnsworth F2 plate, and the Tritan Album had very low sensitivity (the lowest excluding the F2 plate). Best results were obtained from a combination of City University and HRR test scores and this combination could provide useful additional data on colour vision in a glaucoma screening programme.