Abstract
Purpose::
Age related Macular Degeneration is one the most chellenging diseases and cause of low vision involving more than 30% of patients with AMD. Rehabilitation of AMD patients more frequently involves stabilisation and creation of a new PRL instead of a original fovea.
Methods::
15 patients (age 64-85) were analysed and underwent to 10 session of BFD lasting 10 minutes reaching a fixation point more stable to the higher sensitive retinal location screened with MP-1 microperimetry.
Results::
1. Visual Acuity: Before BFD treatment visual acuity was 0.09 +/-0.03. After microperimetric biofeedback the VA increased to 0.18+/- 0.07, the p value was not statistically significant (p=0.054). Near visual acuity increased from a mean value of 36.4 cp to 11.7 cp; this value was statistically significant (p=0.031). 2. Fixation Patterns Stability: At baseline none of the eyes presented stable fixation (level I), 7.42% (2 eyes) had relatively stable fixation patterns, 55.55% (15 eyes) presented relatively unstable fixation and 37.03% (15 eyes) was included in level IV. None of the patients had a clearly identified PRL. After BFD, 4 eyes (14.81%) showed stable fixation, 29.62% (8 eyes) presented relatively stable fixation, 37.03% (10 eyes) relatively unstable and only 5 eyes (18.52%) had unstable fixation. Finally 13 eyes (48.45%) developed a clearly evident PRL within the macular area. Student's t test evidenced a statistically significative increase in average fixation stability and mean single point retinal sensitivity (p=0.0023).Obtained results showed an increase of visual acuity, reading speed and retinal sensitivity. Those were very interesting values because of marked increase of vision efficency.Discussion: Experimental data obtained from our study are extremely interesting both regarding statistical significance and in the evaluation of retinal sensitivity. Patients showed a marked increase in single point retinal sensitivity and subjectively a better quality of vision as shown by measuring this parameter at baseline and at the end of biofeedback stimulation.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • retina • perimetry