Homonymous Visual Field Defects and Stroke in an Older Population

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to describe the prevalence of homonymous visual field defects in a defined older urban population and associations with self-reported stroke. METHODS: Homonymous visual field defects were assessed from screening automated visual field tests of both eyes in 3654 persons aged > or =49 years who were participating in the Blue Mountains Eye Study. This represented 82.4% of eligible residents from a defined area west of Sydney, Australia. A detailed eye examination was performed, and the medical history was taken. Masked grading of visual fields was used to classify the presence of homonymous visual field defects. RESULTS: Homonymous visual field defects were found in 25 persons (prevalence 0.8%, 95% CI 0.5% to 1.1%). Stroke history was reported by 194 participants (5.3%, 95% CI 4.6% to 6.1%). A strong relationship was found between homonymous visual field defects and history of stroke, age-, and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 23.4 (95% CI 9.9 to 55.7). Homonymous field defects were present in 8.3% of all persons who reported experiencing a stroke. Among those with homonymous field defects, 52% reported a history of stroke. Only 2 of 10 persons (20%) with homonymous field defects without a history of stroke reported having stopped driving, whereas 6 of 9 (67%) reporting stroke had stopped driving (P=0.07). Increasing age (OR 1.4 per decade, 95% CI 1.2 to 1.8) was significantly associated with homonymous visual field defects, with adjustment for sex, whereas a history of hypertension (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.1), diabetes (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.4 to 3.2), and renal impairment (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.1) also was associated, with adjustment for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides accurate prevalence data for homonymous visual field defects in an older population. About half the participants did not report stroke.