Reticular pseudodrusen: a different type of Early Age-related Macular Degeneration?

Abstract

Purpose : Reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) are considered to be a distinct feature in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Population studies have studied the epidemiology of RPD using standard color fundus photographs (CFP). However, recent studies have shown that RPD are better imaged using Near Infrared (NIR) imaging. We studied the epidemiology of RPD in a large population-based study using NIR and CFP.

Methods : Participants aged 65+ years from the Rotterdam Study underwent ophthalmological examination including NIR and CFP. Both images were graded for the presence of RPD and soft indistinct drusen (SID). Associations with demographic and environmental factors, 26 genetic variants, and total genetic risk score were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

Results : RPD were detected in 137 (4.9%) of 2,774 study participants; of these, 92.7% were detected with NIR imaging and 38% on CFP. The majority of eyes with RPD showed presence of SID, while other drusen types coincided less frequently. RPD were significantly associated with age (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.21 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.17-1.24)) and female sex (OR 2.10 (95% CI 1.41-3.13)). Environmental factors did not show a significant association with RPD. Major AMD risk variants were significantly associated with RPD and SID, however, ARMS2 and VEGFA were more associated with RPD (RPD vs SID P<0.05). Total genetic risk score did not differ significantly (P=0.88).

Conclusions : Detection of RPD was better with NIR imaging than on CFP. The presence of RPD often coincided with the presence of soft indistinct drusen, however, they showed differences in genetic risk profile.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.