Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

Perimetric stimuli undergoing complete spatial summation optimise the detection of retinal ganglion cell density gradients in healthy observers

Campbell, Caitlín S., Stapley, Victoria, Anderson, Roger S., Garway-Heath, David F., Redmond, Tony ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6997-5231 and Mulholland, Padraig J. 2025. Perimetric stimuli undergoing complete spatial summation optimise the detection of retinal ganglion cell density gradients in healthy observers. Translational Vision Science & Technology 14 (11) , 14. 10.1167/tvst.14.11.14

[thumbnail of Campbell et al 2025.pdf]
Preview
PDF - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the ability of conventional luminance-modulating perimetric stimuli and an area-modulation stimulus (AMS) designed to measure changes in complete spatial summation to identify physiological retinal ganglion cell density (RGCD) gradients in healthy observers. Methods: Contrast thresholds were measured for Goldmann III (GIII; 0.43°, 200 ms) and V (GV; 1.72°, 200 ms) stimuli at 3° and 10° eccentricity in 100 healthy observers (median age, 43 years, range, 18–85 years), with mean spherical equivalent refractive errors ranging from −10.38 to +4.63 DS. Area thresholds were measured at the same locations using a fixed luminance stimulus (ΔL: 4.4 cd/m2, 200 ms). Colocalized RGCD estimates were determined using (i) optical coherence tomography (OCT) RGC layer thickness measures, and (ii) achromatic peripheral grating resolution acuity (PGRA) thresholds. Ratios of the difference in log energy threshold (ΔE) and log RGCD (ΔRGCD) between eccentricities were calculated (ΔE/|ΔRGCD|), with a value of 1 assumed to be the optimal relationship between functional thresholds and RGCD. Results: ΔE/|ΔRGCD|) values (median and interquartile range [IQR]) were largest for AMS (OCT, 0.54 [IQR, 0.37–0.78]; PGRA, 0.71 [IQR, 0.46–1.19]), followed by GIII (OCT, 0.29 [IQR, 0.08–0.44]; PGRA, 0.33 [IQR, 0.07–0.54]; and GV (OCT, 0.16 [IQR, 0.02–0.29]; and PGRA, 0.19 [IQR, 0.02–0.44]). Interstimulus differences between all stimulus pairs were statistically significant (AMS vs GIII, both P < 0.001; AMS vs GV, both P < 0.001; GIII vs GV, both P < 0.05). Conclusions: ΔE/|ΔRGCD| values were closest to 1 for AMS, suggesting this stimulus relates best to underlying physiological variations in RGCD. Translational Relevance: Thresholds measured with area modulation stimuli vary more proportionally with physiological changes in retinal ganglion cell density relative to conventional perimetric stimuli.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Schools > Optometry and Vision Sciences
Publisher: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
ISSN: 2164-2591
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 22 September 2025
Date of Acceptance: 22 September 2025
Last Modified: 17 Nov 2025 12:02
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/181266

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics