Third International Visual Field Symposium - Imaging and Perimetry ...

larger than the pathological variation of thresholds in defects. This patholog-
ical variation can be considerably larger than the normal variation.
Interesting papers on this subject were also given by Iwata and Mizoka-
mi. Iwata demonstrated that in the presence of visible RNFL defects revers-
ibility of the corresponding VFD is unlikely to occur. These papers showed
again that before the occurence of actual nerve fiber death, the nerve fibers
may go through a stage of reversible loss of function, which has interesting
implications concerning the pathogenesis of glaucomatous VFD.
Automation of perimetry was introduced by Fankhauser. Several aspects
of this important contribution to perimetry were highlighted by Hamazaki,
Bynke, Aulhorn and Zingirian. Threshold fluctuations and stimulus density
are important factors both in the detection phase and the assessment phase.
It is expected that an automated detection phase will soon be available
for routine-examination. The problems of a well-programmed assessment
phase have not yet been solved to everyones satisfaction. Programmes for
the assessment phase will require most of our attention in the near future.
A new and fasinating area of research is provided by Fundus-controlled
perimetry. This method originally proposed by Aulhorn was introduced by
Kani and further presented by Ohta. The stimulus can be exactly positioned
on the fundus due to a combination of a fundus camera, a built-in stimulus
presentation device and a simultaneous display of fundus and stimulus. This
still experimental method allows exact studies of the correlation between
ophthalmoscopic lesions and functional defects.
Much is expected from this type of research once the present technical
problems have been overcome.
Similar correlations between fundus lesions and perimetry were pre-
sented by Enoch and by Greve using different methods.
Greve demonstrated again that differential mesopic-photopic perimetry
was very usefull in macular diseases and specifically in the early stages of
Senile disciform macular degeneration.
This 3rd Int. V.F. Symposium showed that the old method of perimetry
is very much alive and has many branches of new developments that will
enrich our range of diagnostic possibilities to the benefit of the patient.
Miss Kayoho Adachi in Tokyo and Miss Els Mutsaerts and Mr. Bill Miller
in Amsterdam gave excellent assistance for the preparation of the sympo-
sium.
The local organization was in the capable hands of Professor Ted Matsuo
and his staff. We wish to express our gratitude for their accurate and hospi-
table organization. It is difficult to name the many staff-members of the eye
clinic of Tokyo Medical College hospital who have contributed to the
success of this symposium. If we specialy thank Dr. Hamazaki it is because
he stands for all of them.
The Proceedings are out now thanks to the tremendous work of Miss. Els
Mutsaerts to whom we express our gratefullness. The cooperation with Dr.
W. Junk bv, the publishers, was efficient and pleasant as ever.