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Visual field performance is reduced by concomitant handsfree conversation on a cellular telephone

Ophthalmology, Assaf Harofe Med Ctr, Beer Yaakov, Israel

Commercial Relationships: Y. Barkana, None; A. Kaplan, None; I. Avni, None.

Grant Identification: none

Abstract

Purpose: To quantify the attention–diverting effect of cellular–phone conversation on visual field awareness using a new model based on the Humphrey visual field analyzer.

Methods: 20 male and 20 female normal participants performed 3 Esterman visual field examinations with the Humphrey Field Analyzer II. The second exam was used as baseline. During the third exam, the participant engaged in a hands–free conversation using the a cellular phone. The conversation was based on a standard questionnaire and simulated ordinary conversation. Visual field performance parameters were compared between the 2^nd–baseline and the 3^rd–test exams and included: number of points missed for the left and right eyes, test duration, rate of fixation losses, false–positive and false–negative errors.

Results: A learning effect was observed with improved performance from the 1st to the 2^nd exam. During phone conversation, missed points increased from mean 1.03 to 4.1 (p=0.02) in the right eye and from 1.1 to 3.2 (p=0.008) in the left eye. Missed points were mainly in the peripheral field. Fixation loss increased from mean10.67% to 29.84% (p=0.005) and from 6.91% to 36.78% (p<0.0001) for the right and left eyes, respectively. False–negative and false–positive rates were low. Test duration significantly increased by a mean of 16% per stimulus.

Conclusions:The attention–diverting effect of cellular–phone conversation was quantified with a novel model and found to be significant.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • perception • perimetry

© 2004, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. For permission to reproduce any part of this abstract, contact the ARVO Office at arvo{at}arvo.org.