We compared visual field indices calculated by Humphrey matrix perimetry (HMP) and Humphrey perimetry (HP) in 62 early glaucoma patients and 587 normal subjects. Reliability indices, except for the false positive rate, were smaller when using HMP. Mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) calculated by HMP correlated with those by HP, but MD by HMP showed larger defects in early glaucoma patients. Thus, HMP might be more sensitive for detecting glaucomatous visual field loss.