Purpose.
To evaluate white sphere kinetic
perimetry (WSKP) as a test of the peripheral
visual field in young
children with a history of epilepsy and treatment with
Vigabatrin (VGB). VGB is an antiepileptic medication that is associated with
visual field constriction.
Methods.
Thirty-one VGB patients and 10 control subjects, median age 6 years, were recruited.
Visual field extent on the major oblique meridia was tested with a 6° white sphere and WSKP, a method used by Quinn et al. to study field extent in
children with retinopathy of prematurity. The same meridia were tested using Goldmann kinetic
perimetry (GKP; 1.7° target) in those who were capable. Monocular and binocular tests were conducted.
Visual field extent for WSKP and GKP were compared in VGB patients and control subjects.
Results.
Twenty-eight of 31 VGB patients were testable with binocular WSKP and their median
visual field extents were smaller than controls. In 8 of 28 (29%) VGB patients, binocular field extents were smaller than the minimum in the control subjects. Monocular WSKP results did not differ between VGB patients and control subjects. Nine VGB patients were testable with both WSKP and GKP;
visual field extents did not differ between tests.
Conclusions.
WSKP is feasible in VGB patients, even in those with developmental delays. WSKP has the potential to detect
visual field constriction associated with VGB use.
