How useful is population data for informing visual field progression rate estimation

Abstract

PURPOSE. Bayesian estimators allow the frequency of visual field progression rates in the population (the prior distribution) to constrain rate estimates for individuals. We examined the benefits of a prior distribution accounting for one of progression's major risk factors-whether intraocular pressure is treated-to gauge the maximum benefit expected from developing priors for other glaucoma risk factors. METHODS. Our prior distribution was derived from published data from either treated (matched-prior condition) or untreated (unmatched-prior condition) glaucoma patients. We simulated MD values (6-monthly) with true underlying progression rates drawn from the same distribution as the prior f..