Epilepsy surgery, visual fields, and driving: a study of the visual field criteria for driving in patients after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery with a comparison of Goldmann and Esterman perimetry. Issue 1 (1st January 2000)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manji, H; Plant, G T
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 68:Issue 1(2000)
• Page Start: 80
• Page End: 82
• Publication Date: 2000-01-01
• Subjects: epilepsy surgery -- visual fields -- driving; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.68.1.80
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Twenty four patients who had undergone temporal lobe surgery for epilepsy were assessed to determine ( a ) whether or not they had developed a visual field defect and ( b ) if a field defect was present, were the visual field criteria, as required by the DVLA, fulfilled using the monocular Goldmann perimeter test and the automated binocular Esterman method performed on a Humphrey perimeter. A field deficit was found in 13 of 24 (54%) using the Goldmann perimeter and 11 of 24 (46%) by the Esterman method. The second was a more lenient assessment with six of 24 (25%) failing the driving criteria compared with 10 of 24 (42%) by the monocular Goldmann method. Three patients were seizure free but failed the driving criteria. This complication of surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy needs to be discussed with patients before surgery.