Comparison of Esterman disability scores obtained using Goldmann perimetry and the Humphrey field analyzer in Japanese low-vision patients

PURPOSE: To compare the Esterman Disability Score (EDS) obtained with Goldmann perimetry (GP) testing and the Humphrey field analyzer (HFA) in low vision Japanese subjects. Subjects were also divided into groups by diagnosis to examine how disease influences EDS measurements. METHODS: The EDS was obtained using GP (GP-EDS) and the built-in testing program of the HFA (HFA-EDS). Tests were performed within 3 months of each other. Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between GP-EDS and HFA-EDS. RESULTS: A total of 128 visually impaired subjects were included in this study. Subjects had low vision because of glaucoma (57 subjects), age-related macular degeneration (AMD, 17 subjects), retinitis pigmentosa (RP, 17 subjects), and other causes (37 subjects). The GP-EDS obtained was well-correlated with HFA-EDS (r = 0.87, P < 0.001) and it was possible to estimate HFA-EDS from GP-EDS. The GP-EDS was significantly lower than the HFA-EDS in eyes with glaucoma and RP. There was no significant difference between EDS values in eyes with AMD or other disease. CONCLUSION: The GP-EDS correlated well with the HFA-EDS. However, the relationship between the EDS measured with the two different testing modalities varies by disease.