Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the effect of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) ring on visual field (VF) deterioration in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
Methods :
Twenty-eight eyes of 15 patients RP were enrolled in our current study. VF was measured at a one-degree interval on the horizontal or vertical lines, within the central 10 degrees from fixation, using MP-3 microperimetry (Nidek, Japan). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed and the EZ was identified. FAF was also measured and the FAF ring was identified. The VF test points were categorized according to their relationship with the EZ line and the FAF ring. The relationship between mean retinal sensitivity deviations on either the horizontal or vertical lines and the diameters of the EZ line and the AF ring in the corresponding directions was analyzed. The relationship between retinal sensitivity deviation and the locations against EZ line and FAF rings was also investigated.
All study protocols adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board of The University of Tokyo Hospital.
Results :
The mean (±standard deviation) age of the patients was 45.5 ± 16.0 years, 7 patients were male and 8 patients were female. Mean retinal sensitivity deviation was more strongly correlated with the diameter of the FAF ring than with that of the EZ line in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Test point location inside/on/outside the FAF ring was significantly related to retinal sensitivity deviation, independent from the location inside/outside the EZ line (p <0.001, linear mixed model).
Conclusions :
Visual sensitivity damage in RP is associated with both the EZ lines and the FAF rings, but this association is significantly stronger with the FAF rings. The deterioration of visual function in RP is not entirely explained by EZ line. Abnormality in the RPE itself is important.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.