Viability of performing multiple 24-2 visual field examinations at the same clinical visit: the Frontloading Fields Study (FFS).

ABSTRACT Purpose : To assess the viability in terms of time taken for testing and repeatability of frontloading (performing multiple perimetric examinations) in a single clinic visit. Design : Reliability enhancement analysis. Participants : 329 healthy, glaucoma suspect, and glaucoma subjects within a glaucoma clinic undergoing perimetric testing using SITA-Faster twice for each eye within the same session. We analysed global indices, pointwise sensitivity and probability scores, test duration and reliability metrics. Results : 9.1% of right and 6.7% of left eye results were unreliable for both tests, with 58.4% and 67.5% of right and left eyes achieving reliable results on both. 83.8% of all subjects spent less than 20 minutes performing all tests. Differences in global indices, pointwise sensitivity and probability scores showed no systematic nor clinically significant difference between test one and two for each eye. There was also no systematic difference in the number of test locations identified as defective at the p Conclusions : Frontloading using SITA-Faster was viable for obtaining sets of reliable, repeatable perimetric data in terms of conventional outputs, overcoming practical issues regarding low test reliability using singleton results and confirmation of visual field defects. Despite the need to remain cognisant of the reliability of SITA-Faster, frontloading using this algorithm may be a practical method for meeting recommendations for multiple perimetric data required to make confident inferences about glaucoma state and progression.