Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the changes in visual acuity, retinal thickness, microperimetry, and fixation stability in a sample of patients receiving anti-VEGF therapy for AMD.
Methods: :
Data from eight subjects (13 eyes) were examined retrospectively. Durations of treatment ranged from six months to over two years. Acuity was measured using the ETDRS chart on each visit. The OCT/SLO (Opko-OTI, Toronto, Canada) was used to measure microperimetry. Goldmann III size targets were presented for 200 ms and a 4-2 algorithm was used to derive thresholds. The background illuminantion was set at 10 cd/m2. The locus of fixation and fixation stability were quantified by recording the point of fixation throughout the microperimetry test. Retinal thickness at the locus of fixation was calculated using the spectral OCT/SLO. Patients were treated with either Avastin or Lucentis.
Results: :
The average age of the three males and five females subjects was 73 years. Acuities at the start of treatments averaged 0.42 logMAR and at the end of treatments, they averaged 0.22 logMAR. For 7 of the 13 eyes, fixation area decreased with treatment. In these eyes, increased fixation stability was correlated with decreased retinal thickness. Fixation stability was not correlated with acuity or microperimetry sensitivity.
Conclusions: :
In this small group of subjects, fixation stability was related to retinal structure, but not to visual functions.
Keywords: visual fields • clinical research methodology • age-related macular degeneration