Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the relationship between measures of visual performance (VP) (using a range of psychophysical parameters) and AMD severity in subjects with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (ARERDS grade 2 to 8).
Methods:
Data was collected from 66 subjects with early AMD. Corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was measured using a logMAR chart. Contrast sensitivity (CS) and glare disability (GD) were measured using the sine wave grating-based Functional Vision Analyser (FVA) ™. Retinotopic ocular sensitivity (ROS) was measured by microperimetry. Stereo fundus images were graded for AMD status at the accredited reading centre at the University of Wisconsin.
Results:
There was a statistically significant inverse relationship between measures of ROS and AMD-severity grade (p ≤ 0.01). No other parameters of VP were significantly related to AMD severity (p > 0.05, for all).
Conclusions:
AMD status is related to ROS measurements, but is not related to other psychophysical measurements of VP, including CDVA, in subjects with early AMD. This is an important finding, as CDVA is typically the only outcome measure used in the clinical and research setting for this condition.
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration •
754 visual acuity •
642 perimetry