Artikel
Incidence and causes of visual field loss in the general population: the Rotterdam Study
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Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 22. September 2004 |
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Gliederung
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Objective
To determine the incidence and causes of visual field loss (VFL) in a general elderly population.
Methods
Central visual fields of both eyes were screened by suprathreshold perimetry in 3761 subjects aged 55 or over who were free of VFL at baseline from the population-based Rotterdam Study. Goldmann perimetry was performed to confirm the presence of defects found on screening twice. Causes of incident VFL were assessed based on all available ophthalmologic and neurological examination data and medical records.
Results
After a mean follow-up time of 6.3 years, 175 persons developed VFL. The overall incidence rate of VFL was 7.4 per 1000 person-years, increasing to 21.1 per 1000 person-years in those aged 80 years and older. Glaucoma was the leading cause of VFL in all age categories. The overall incidence of glaucomatous VFL was 2.1 per 1000 person-years.
Conclusions
The incidence of VFL increased fivefold between 55 and over 75 years of age. The 5-year risk of developing glaucomatous VFL increased fourfold. Glaucoma was the leading cause in all age categories; stroke was the second most common cause before age 75 years followed by age-related macular degeneration and retinal vascular occlusive disease.