Changes of visual functions in patients with pituitary adenoma

Abstract

Background and Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between visual functions (visual acuity, perimetry, optic nerve disc condition, and color contrast sensitivity) and pituitary adenoma (PA) diameter. Material and Methods. In the study, 20 patients with PA, which was confirmed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans, were examined. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with a PA diameter of ≤1 cm (14 eyes) and with a PA diameter of >1 cm (26 eyes). The control group comprised 40 healthy age- and gender-matched persons (80 eyes). The diameter of PA, visual acuity, and perimetry were analyzed; the F-M 100 hue test for color discrimination was used in patients with PA. Results. Visual acuity was better in the control group as compared with both groups of patients (1.0 vs. 0.90 [SD, 0.50] and 0.64 [SD, 0.21]; P=0.01; respectively). The results of the Farnsworth- Munsell 100 hue test were also better in the control group compared with the patients with PA of ≤1 cm and >1 cm (error score of 80.1 [SD, 53.0] vs. 131.8 [SD, 30.6] and 244.68 [SD, 51. 6], respectively; P=0.011). There was a very strong positive correlation between the error score of the F-M 100 hue test and PA diameter (r=0.905), but the correlation between the error score and visual acuity (r=-0.32), perimetry (r=0.21), and eye fundus changes (r=0.36) and PA diameter was weak. Conclusions. Our results showed that PA can cause the impairments of visual acuity, perimetry, and color contrast sensitivity. The computerized F-M 100 hue test can be one of the methods for an early diagnosis of chiasm damage in patients with PA.