Visual field defects in deformational posterior plagiocephaly.

Purpose: We sought to determine whether visual field abnormalities occur in infants with deformational posterior plagiocephaly and to assess whether there is a relationship between the severity and laterality of visual field abnormalities with the severity and laterality of skull deformity.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 40 consecutive infants with deformational posterior plagiocephaly. Each was tested with standardized binocular arc perimetry in the horizontal plane. Sixteen patients also had 3-dimensional computed tomography of the skull. Hemifield asymmetry of >/=20 degrees and/or a decrease in hemifield values by >/=20 degrees from established normal patients was considered abnormal. Visual field data from study patients was plotted against previously published normative data. Graphs comparing visual field defects and laterality to cranial asymmetry also were generated.

Results: Thirty-five percent of infants with deformational posterior plagiocephaly had constriction of one or both hemifields by at least 20 degrees from established normal patients. Hemifield asymmetry of 20 degrees or more was found in 17.5% of infants tested. There was a significant difference in the worse hemifield values measured in each patient and the standard visual fields obtained from normative data ( P = 0.036). There was no correlation between the laterality of the visual fields to the laterality of the defects. A correlation between severity of hemifield constriction and % asymmetry on computed tomography was noted ( P = 0.209).

Conclusions: Deformational posterior plagiocephaly may affect visual field development but neither the laterality nor the severity of skull deformity is predictive of the severity of visual field defects.