We’re all familiar with the Humphrey Visual Field. Whether we’ve operated the machine as a doctor, a tech, or on the other side, as a patient, we all agree it is the gold standard as far as testing… so why is there even competition?
It’s simple – there’s always room to improve.
While the HFA in its many iterations over the years is the standard all other visual fields are compared to, that doesn’t mean there aren’t areas where perimetry can’t be improved.
If you know the HFA, then you know where these areas of improvement are:
Access
This one is multifaceted – sure, we could be talking about patients with issues like those confined to their beds or in wheelchairs but, I mean, how many times have you had to slow walk an elderly patient (that can be a potential liability for falling) all the way back to the testing room and then do it again to get them to the lane.
What about access, as far as having a small, privately owned practice in a low-income community? The HFA can be prohibitive not only due to the cost of the device itself, but also the need to have a dedicated room and the consumables and maintenance it requires. What about practices in retail locations with space constraints? And the mobile medical providers that visit nursing homes or even large multi-doctor specialty practices with a dedicated testing room and a big fancy expensive set-up – even they must deal with the bottle neck a visual field you need to repeat can cause.
A portable visual field test device that provides the controlled environment, test patterns you are familiar with, VRVF or virtual reality perimeters, addresses the issue of access on all fronts. Not only is it an accessible device you can take to your patients to meet them where they are (and is eligible for the ADA tax credit to boot!). It is also more cost-effective as it does not require a dedicated physical space, and there are options with a low cost of entry into the technology.
Comfort
As a tech, there were two tests I dreaded having to run on patients and even having them done as a patient: the tonometer and the visual field.
While the VRVF can’t do anything to help patients not flinch at a puff of air, improving patient comfort was something we could address.
Ease of Use
Depending on which model of the HFA you own, as a doctor or tech, you may have had to deal with occluding one eye, calculating the necessary add power, and taking into account the patient’s prescription. You’ve maybe had to order and change out specialty paper, and I know that just looking at the chapter on cleaning the HFA gave me anxiety during my time as a tech.
All that was worth it because we got excellent diagnostic support from the HFA – if it’s not broken, why fix it!
The Micro Medical Devices, Inc. VRVF was the first to be developed and made commercially available with the goal of providing results on par with the HFA in a more user and patient-friendly device.
More competitors have since entered the field (Olleyes, Heru, Radius, Virtual Vision, Virtual Field, etc.), with each having a slightly different approach; most of these reinforce how this technology stands on the shoulders of giants and gives eye care professionals more access and more choices.
The test patterns, full and fast strategies, SAP (Static Automated Perimetry), and kinetic (Goldmann type testing), FDT were not reinvented; they are the current standard and pinnacle of diagnostics for glaucoma, optic nerve damage, macular degeneration, and disease or trauma-induced vision-compromising neurological issues. Simply making these test types as accurate, repeatable, and comparable to their tabletop predecessors on the VRVF has revolutionized the industry.
Would we love to invent a special test pattern and strategy that no one has ever seen before? Sure, but having the ability to compare test results your patient brought from their referring doctor without having to learn a new diagnostic language is more critical.
All that to say – if you have a Humphrey’s, that’s great!
If you need a second device to help address bottlenecks, consider VRVF.
If you don’t have a Humphrey’s and can’t afford the cost or the space, VRVF is just as good and may provide you with some added benefits you would get with the HFA.
If you have an aging patient population, consider the benefit of moving the device vs moving the patient.
If this article piqued your interest, the VF2000 has two different models, including over 30 visual field patterns and different test types and strategies, including full and fast thresholds, kinetic, ptosis, and neuro. In addition to visual fields, we offer optional modules that expand testing, and if you are in the US, we offer a 30-day risk-free trial – if you choose not to keep the device, you only pay the shipping.
Contact us today to learn more about VF2000, compare models, or request a demo for your practice.
