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

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. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12886-017-0522-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.