PERFORMANCE OF NONLINEAR VISUAL UNITS IN OCULAR HYPERTENSION AND GLAUCOMA

Summary-!. Two psychophysical tests to assess retinal function in ocular hypertension and glaucoma are described. The basis for these tests is the frequency-doubled percept seen with rapid temporal modulation of the contrast of very low spatial frequencies. 2. The results of the second set of experiments show correlation (P < 0.01) with optic disc cupping. Without the inclusion of information about subjects' optic disc condition the second experimental procedure distinguishes the test group from normals (P < 0.01). 3. A model which considers optic disc condition in conjunction with the results of the main experimental method described leads to a separability of normals and a subgroup with moderate disc cupping at the P < 0.001 level. 4. The results reported here, taken together with the current data on retinal ganglion cell function, indicate that harnessing unique features of the frequency-doubled illusion may allow the design of a highly specific and sensitive test for the assessment of early glaucomatous damage.