Validation of a new static perimetric thresholding strategy (GATE).

AIMS: To validate the EyeSuite version of German Adaptive Threshold Estimation (GATE), a new thresholding algorithm for automated static perimetry. METHODS: Specification of agreement and its clinical evaluation as validation criteria. Comparison of local differential luminance sensitivity (DLS) and test time values between the prototype version of GATE (GATEp) and a clinical trial version, implemented in EyeSuite (GATEe), by means of modified Bland-Altman plots. All examinations were performed on the Octopus 900 perimeter (Haag-Streit Inc., Köniz, Switzerland). Visually impaired patients (anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy [n=3], glaucomatous optic neuropathy [n=15], (post-)chiasmal visual pathway lesion [n=6], retinitis pigmentosa [n=6]) were either tested with grid 30A (30° excentricity, 83 test locations) or grid 84NO (90° excentricity, 109 test locations, patients with RP only). RESULTS: The comparison of local DLS values showed good-to-acceptable agreement between GATEp and GATEe (bias <2 dB, limits of agreement [LOA] <5 dB) and very good repeatability for GATEp (bias <0.5 dB, LOA<3 dB). Median test times for GATEp and GATEe were 7.8  and 8.8 min for the 30° grid and 6.7  and 7.8 min for the 90° grid. CONCLUSIONS: GATEp and GATE, implemented in the commercially available EyeSuite software package (GATEe), show good agreement regarding local differential luminance sensitivity. GATEe can thus be also recommended for clinical practice. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: NCT01265628.