Comparison of monocular sensitivities measured with and without occlusion using the head-mounted perimeter imo

PURPOSE: Using a head-mounted perimeter imo that can measure monocular sensitivity with both eyes open, we investigated the difference between monocular sensitivities measured with and without occlusion of the fellow eye and if the difference was influenced by eccentricity. METHODS: Using the perimeter imo, monocular sensitivities with/without occlusion and binocular sensitivity were measured and compared. Three test conditions for monocular sensitivity without occlusion were: with/without a fusional fixation target, and a binocular random single eye test in which the target was randomly presented to either eye and the examinee was not aware of the tested eye. Within the central 25° visual field (VF), 29 points located at the fovea and on the 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315° meridians with 3° intervals were tested. Differences among the four monocular sensitivities with/without occlusion were further evaluated at the fovea, within and beyond the central 5° VF. RESULTS: Sixteen visually normal volunteers (mean age, 28.6 ± 4.6 years) were included in this study. Except at the fovea, monocular sensitivities measured without occlusion were significantly higher than those with occlusion (P < 0.01). No significant difference was seen among the three monocular sensitivities without occlusion (P = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Except at the fovea, monocular sensitivities measured with and without occlusion significantly differed. This indicates that without occlusion, binocular interaction is activated and affects not only binocular sensitivity but also monocular sensitivity.