The peripheral and Central Humphrey visual field – morphological changes during aging

• Main Authors: Paul Rutkowski, Christian Albrecht May
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2017-07-01
• Series: BMC Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Central visual field; Peripheral visual field; Healthy; Aging
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12886-017-0522-3

Abstract Background To define age-related changes in the visual field by comparing ‘standard’ central and unique peripheral visual field measurements in healthy volunteers. Methods In a single center, retrospective, Cross-sectional, observational study, 20 volunteers with no retinal diseases or risk factors, ranging in age between 30 and 94 years (four age groups: 30’s, 50’s, 70’s, 90’s) were measured in one eye (preferentially the right one) using a Humphrey visual field 24–2 and 60–4. Results While the central visual field remained relatively well preserved during aging showing only a mild reduction in sensitivity, a profound loss of the peripheral visual field was observed beginning in the fifth decade of life and decreasing continuously up to the 90ies. Conclusions The peripheral visual field declined substantially from the 4th decade onward while the central visual field remained quite stable.