Detection of functional deterioration in glaucoma by trend analysis using comprehensive overlapping clusters of locations

Abstract

Detecting rapid visual field deterioration is crucial for individuals with glaucoma. Cluster trend analysis detects visual field deterioration with higher sensitivity than global analyses by using predefined non-overlapping subsets of visual field locations. However, it may miss small defects that straddle cluster borders. This study introduces a comprehensive set of overlapping clusters, and assesses whether this further improves progression detection. Clusters were defined as locations from where ganglion cell axons enter the optic nerve head within a θ° wide sector, centered at 1º intervals, for various θ. Deterioration in eyes with or at risk of glaucomatous visual field loss was “detected” if ≥ Nθ clusters had deteriorated with p