Abstract
Purpose :
Gradual deterioration of photoreceptor / RPE health in untreated and treated AMD patients is common, irrespective of AREDS I, II supplement risk reduction, or intra-vitreal anti-VEGF pharmacologic approaches. We evaluated the dark adaptation (DA) of atrophic AMD patients, a measure of photoreceptor / RPE health before and after Longevinex ®, prescribed under compassionate care clinical guidelines.
Methods :
Baseline clinical DA threshold (log DB), time (min), and fixation (%) were taken for 8 consecutive patients with established atrophic AMD (n=16 eyes; 7 M / 1 F; ages 64 - 89 years), using the Maculogix® Adapt Dx, with best refractive correction. Following treatment with Longevinex® (Longevinex Partners, Las Vegas, NV) 1 capsule qd AM, DA was repeated at varying follow-up exams.
Results :
All but 2 eyes improved in one or more of the 3 DA parameters , with 1 case showing improvement by retinal SD OCT. Expected vs. actual (worse/same/better) Chi Square, P =0.01.
Conclusions :
The first cases of DA stability / improvement are consistent with previous beneficial effects of Longevinex® as well as putative enhanced choriocapillaris circulation. DA is the earliest functional AMD sign, and a prime candidate for “ AMD prevention” This work merits expansion to a controlled study.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.