Influence of age, race, sex, and socioeconomic status on false-negative rates of visual fields in glaucoma

Aim: An increased frequency of false-negative rates for visual fields in glaucoma has been associated with worse visual field status. This study examines whether this finding might also vary according to age, race, sex, or socioeconomic status - demographic factors unrelated to glaucoma that may affect visual field performance. Patients and methods: This study was a retrospective observational case series. Of 1200 charts of patients undergoing visual field testing, 297 were included. The inclusion criteria were unilateral glaucomatous field loss, prior experience with visual field testing, and a visual field defect in 1 eye on at least 2 examinations. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Kruskall-Wallis test. Results: Of 297 patients with unilateral glaucomatous field loss, there were 175 men and 122 women. 123 patients were Caucasian and 128 were black. Seventy four patients (24.92%) were enrolled from a private clinic, 90 (30.30%) from a Veterans Administration hospital, and 133 (44.78%) from a county hospital. The mean false-negative rate in affected eyes was 12.56, while that in unaffected eyes was 4.19. The intrapatient intereye difference in false-negative rates was 8.43 (p < 0.001). However, intrapatient intereye differences in false-negative rates did not vary significantly by patients' age, race, sex, or socioeconomic status. Conclusions: High false-negative rates are closely associated with worsening glaucomatous visual field defects, but age, race, sex, and socioeconomic status do not appear to significantly influence false-negative rates.