Purpose: To study acquired color vision and visual field (VF) defects in patients with ocular hypertension (OH).
Methods: In a prospective study we evaluated 99 eyes of 56 patients with OH without visual field defects and no hereditary color deficiencies, followed-up for 4 to 6 years. Color vision defects were studied using a special computer program for Farnsworth 100-Hue test and visual field tests were performed with Humphrey analyzer using program 30-2. Both tests were repeated every six months.
Results: In 56 eyes glaucomatous VF defects were observed during the follow-up period. There was a statistical significant difference in total error score (TES) between the glaucomatous eyes (157.89±31.79) and OH eyes (75.51±31.57) at the first examination (p<0.001). At the same time VF indices were within normal limits in both groups. In the glaucomatous eyes the earliest statistical significant change in TES was identified at the first year of follow-up and was –20.62±2.75 (p<0.001) while in OH eyes was -2.11±4.36 (p=0.276). Pearson’s coefficient was high in all examinations and showed a direct correlation between TES and mean deviation (MD) and corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD) in both groups.
Conclusion: Quantitative analysis of color vision defects provides the possibility of follow-up and can prove a useful means for detecting early glaucomatous changes in patients with normal visual fields.