Most eyecare providers rely on the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA) and its SITA Standard test as their go-to options to evaluate visual field damage in glaucoma. Improvements to the platform in recent years have focused almost entirely on software upgrades to streamline the testing procedure, leaving ample room for competitors to press their advantage in other ways, most notably with the rise of headset-based field testers that tout various conveniences.

Topcon’s new device, Tempo, offers reliable and repeatable VF test results with less patient chair time, according to the company. Click image to enlarge.

This week, at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting, Topcon will launch something of a middle ground. Its new perimeter, the Tempo, uses an eyepiece reminiscent of the head-mounted devices and is suitable for use in ambient light, but in a desktop device that also employs many familiar testing protocols. The result, Topcon says, will make the process less stressful for patients, techs and eyecare providers—and 39% faster than standard automated perimetry.

In research conducted by the manufacturer, performance has been cited as equivalent to the HFA gold standard with excellent repeatability. Tempo’s mean deviation, pattern standard deviation and visual field index values showed good agreement with HFA SITA-Fast, according to company white papers. Test patterns offered by the Tempo include 30-2, 24-2, 10-2, as well as two types of 24-plus patterns.

Topcon also highlights that the device is equipped with a binocular feature that can test the right and left eyes separately while it randomly presents the test object to either eye in a non-occlusion manner without the patient being aware of which eye is being tested. The company believes that, because patients do not recognize in which eye the stimulus is presented, it has been reported that this test method may be useful in the evaluation of functional VF loss, such as malingering or psychological disorders.

 For more info, go to topconhealthcare.com/products/tempo.