Essential Perimetry. The Field Analyzer Primer

Abstract

Anders Heijl and Vincent Michael Patella Essential Perimetry. The Field Analyzer Primer163 pages Carl Zeiss Meditec Inc., Jena, Germany, 2002ISBN: 0-9721560-0–3 As the introduction to this text declares, the book is intended to serve as ‘an introduction to and primer on clinical perimetry, particularly computerized perimetry using the Humphrey Field Analyzer’. Although the book deals with Humphrey perimetry only, it puts forward basic ideas on visual field testing that can also be applied to other perimetries such as Octopus. The subject is presented on a very practical level, using many examples but without delving too deeply into the basic sciences. This makes the book very suitable as a brief clinical reference for residents and ophthalmic practitioners. It does not, however, replace classical textbooks. The book includes nine chapters covering the principles of perimetry, how to choose a test and how to analyse the field. It also describes the features of visual field loss in glaucoma, neurological diseases and retinal diseases. In addition, the most common causes of artifacts in the visual fields are discussed, with the aid of excellent examples. The chapter on statpac is particularly worthy in that it explains this computerized analysis package in a very clear and clinician-friendly manner. statpac is probably the most useful component of Humphrey perimetry for examining patients with glaucoma. The authors' description of the analysis of visual fields using statpac manages to make the package especially accessible to their readers, particularly if they happen to be clinicians struggling with visual field test results. The basis of the probability plots and the Glaucoma Hemifield Test is clearly presented, with multiple examples from real clinical data. Although perimetry is mostly used in glaucoma, it also serves a purpose among patients with retinal and neurological disorders. These aspects of its use are also covered in the book. Residents and clinicians will find this book a valuable tool for understanding and analysing Humphrey visual fields. The text is compact and easy to read and a quick browse through the figures will help the reader solve some of the problems associated with determining and analysing Humphrey visual fields. The book is highly recommended as a manual for clinicians.