Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To assess the visual acuity impairment in patients with occult macular dystrophy (OMD), an inherited macular dystrophy characterized by a progressive macular dysfunction without any visible fundus abnormality. Methods:Eight patients with OMD (5 men, 3 women), who had been followed for at least 6 years from the initial visit, were studied. The diagnosis of the OMD was based on the presence of a normal fundus, normal fluorescein angiograms, normal full–field ERGs, but abnormal focal macular cone ERGs or multifocal ERGs. The best–corrected visual acuity at the initial visit, at 6 years after the initial visit, and at the most recent visit were investigated based on the medical records, retrospectively. Visual acuities were measured with a Snellen chart. Results:The age at the initial visit ranged from 16 to 64 years (mean; 43.6). The period of observation from the initial visit to the most recent visit ranged from 6 to 12 years (mean; 9.3 years), and 5 patients were followed for more than 10 years. The corrected visual acuity at the initial visit and at 6 years after initial visit ranged from 20/100 to 20/20 (mean Log MAR; 0.33±0.23) and from 20/300 to 20/40 (mean Log MAR; 0.59±0.28) , respectively. The corrected visual acuity at the most recent visit ranged from 20/300 to 20/40 (mean Log MAR; 0.7±0.28). All patients had a visual acuity of 20/200 or better in at least one eye at the most recent visit. Conclusions:Most OMD patients retain a visual acuity of 20/200 or better in at least one eye at about 10 years after the initial visit.
Keywords: degenerations/dystrophies • macula/fovea • visual acuity