Decreased visual field responsiveness in areas with normal sensitivity thresholds in moderate and severe glaucoma.

In eyetracker-based eye movement perimetry (EMP), peripheral stimuli are confirmed by goal-directed eye movements toward the stimulus. The saccadic reaction time (SRT) to seen stimuli is regarded as an index of visual field responsiveness. Here, we compared the visual field sensitivity obtained with standard automated perimetry (SAP) and visual field responsiveness obtained with EMP in patients with glaucoma. At locations where no sensitivity loss was detected by SAP, we found lengthened SRTs in mild, moderate and advanced glaucoma compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Better understanding of altered sensory processing in glaucoma might allow earlier diagnosis of emerging glaucoma.