Abstract
Purpose :
Individuals with pentosan polysulfate (PPS) maculopathy commonly report symptoms of prolonged dark adaptation and difficulty reading. We hypothesize that PPS maculopathy results in degradation of visual function that is not adequately captured with visual acuity testing. We performed a prospective study to comprehensively evaluate the functional impact of PPS maculopathy and then correlated functional results with retinal structure.
Methods :
Fourteen patients (28 eyes) with PPS maculopathy prospectively underwent multimodal evaluation of retinal structure and function. Structural changes were graded as either moderate or severe based on fundus autofluorescence imaging findings. Subjective visual function was assessed with the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25) and Low Luminance Questionnaire (LLQ). Objective evaluations included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, dark adaptometry (MacuLogix), and microperimetry (CenterVue). Results of functional testing were correlated with structural disease category using a Mann-Whitney U Test.
Results :
Functional evaluation of the 28 affected eyes demonstrated noteworthy functional deficits despite a median logMAR BCVA of 0.10 (Snellen equivalent, 20/25; range, -0.1 - 1.5). Results were markedly abnormal when compared to previously reported normative data (Table 1). Median NEI VFQ-25 and LLQ composite scores were 65 (range, 33 - 88) and 40 (range, 20 - 92), respectively. Median contrast sensitivity was 1.65 (range, 0.15 - 1.95), and median microperimetry average thresholds and percent reduced thresholds were 26 (range, 0.4 - 28.6) and 22 (range, 0 - 100), respectively.
Eyes with severe structural abnormalities were associated with significantly worse function as compared to those with moderate structural abnormalities (Table 1). Microperimetry average threshold and percent reduced thresholds for severe disease were markedly worse than those in prior studies of nonexduative AMD.
Conclusions :
PPS maculopathy causes considerable degradation in visual function that is not fully captured with BCVA testing. There was good correlation between other subjective and objective measures of visual function and structural abnormalities. These findings deepen our concern regarding this major patient safety issue and support the implementation of screening programs to promote early detection.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.