Investigating Vection Responses in Patients with Early Stage Glaucoma

Purpose: Our lab has previously shown that patients with early glaucoma have dysfunctional vection responses. We attempted to explain this finding using a combined index of structure and function (CSFI), originally proposed by Medeiros et al. (OVS 2012;130(9):1107-1116) Methods: Roll and circular vection were evoked using a back projected screen (Experiment 1) and the Oculus RiftTM system (Experiment 2), respectively. The CSFI, was obtained using clinical data from visual field tests and optical coherence tomography. Results: In Experiment 1, the log of vection latency was significantly longer for patients with glaucoma (t(21) = 2.39, p < .05). In Experiment 2, vection latency was significantly longer for the glaucoma group for both stimulus speeds (F(1,22) = 6.38, p = .019). However, the CSFI was not related to vection latency, duration, or rating (smallest p = .06). Conclusion: In two different studies we replicated the finding that vection responses are longer in patients with glaucoma; however, the CSFI is not related to vection responses.