Pre-perimetric glaucoma is best described as optic nerve abnormalities consistent with glaucoma with what Visual Field status?

• A. Visual field defect in one hemifield
• B. No optic nerve abnormalities
• C. Normal visual field
• D. Visual field defect in both hemifields

Answer: (C)

Pre-perimetric glaucoma is when the optic nerve shows glaucomatous structural damage (such as cupping or thinning of the neuroretinal rim or retinal nerve fiber layer loss) but the visual field test results are still normal. In this stage, function hasn’t yet declined enough to produce a detectable defect on standard perimetry, so the visual field status remains normal. If a field defect appeared—whether in one hemifield or both—that would indicate functional loss and would place the condition beyond the pre-perimetric stage. The presence of optic nerve abnormalities with a normal visual field best fits this early, structural-only phase.