Comparison of the Goldmann–Weekers dark adaptometer and LKC Technologies Scotopic Sensitivity tester-1

• Published in: Documenta ophthalmologica Vol. 101; no. 1; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Peters, A.Y., Locke, K.G., Birch, D.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.07.2000
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Dark Adaptation; Electrophysiology - instrumentation; Electroretinography; Humans; Middle Aged; Night Blindness - diagnosis; Retinal Degeneration - diagnosis; Retinal Degeneration - genetics; Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells - pathology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sensory Thresholds; Vision Tests - instrumentation; Visual Acuity
• ISSN: 0012-4486; 1573-2622
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1002765024774

The standard for dark adaptation has long been the Goldmann-Weekers Dark Adaptometer(Haag-Streit). More recently, portable, relatively inexpensive LED-based dark adaptometers have become commercially available. These devices have potential use in areas with limited resources to screen for night-blindness, commonly caused worldwide by vitamin A deficiency. In order to determine the sensitivity to detecting changes in night vision, this study compared one such device, LKC Technologies Scotopic Sensitivity Tester-1 (SST-1) to the Goldmann-Weekers in patients with hereditary retinal degeneration and loss of rod function. Dark-adapted final thresholds and rod full-field ERG responses were obtained from 87 patients and 24 normal subjects. Linear regression analysis, discrepancy analysis, and receiver operator characteristic curves for both devices show that the SST-1 quantifies psychophysical rod function nearly as well as the Goldmann-Weekers, within some limitations. We conclude, therefore, that the SST-1 is a viable alternative to the Goldmann-Weekers for the screening of night-blinding retinal disorders.