Development and evaluation of Order of Magnitude (OM): a virtual reality-based visual field analyzer for glaucoma detection

This study introduces the Order of Magnitude (OM), a cost-effective, indigenous, virtual reality-based visual field analyzer designed for detecting glaucomatous visual field loss.

The OM test employs a two-step supra-thresholding algorithm utilizing stimuli of 0.43°diameter (equivalent to Goldmann size III) at low and high thresholds. A comparative analysis was conducted against the Humphrey visual field (HVF) test, considered the gold standard in clinical practice. Participants, including those with glaucoma and normal individuals, underwent comprehensive eye examinations alongside the OM and HVF tests between April and October 2019. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the OM test were assessed against clinical diagnoses made by specialists.

We studied 157 eyes (74 glaucomatous, 83 control) of 152 participants. Results demonstrated a high level of reliability for both OM and HVF tests, with no significant difference observed (P = 0.19, Chi-square test). The sensitivity and specificity of the OM test were found to be 93% (95% CI 86–100%) and 83% (95% CI 72.4–93%), respectively, while the HVF test showed sensitivity and specificity of 98% (95% CI 93.9–100%) and 83% (95% CI 73.9–92.8%), respectively.

These findings suggest that the OM test is non-inferior to the reference standard HVF test in identifying glaucomatous visual field loss.