Abstract
Purpose :
Quantifying retina function in human subjects enrolled in clinical trials relies heavily on Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy (ETDRS) visual acuity scoring. Others have sought to quantify different elements of visual function such as visible spectrum contrast sensitivity, microperimetry and cone contrast threshold. In age-related macular degeneration, contrast sensitivity, low luminance visual acuity, and microperimetry demonstrate reduced visual function when the disease is at the intermediate stage or beyond. We seek to evaluate the performance of near infra-red (IR 700 to 1100 nm) light visual stimulation using 2-photon microperimetry in human subjects without disease and those with intermediate to advanced ARMD.
Methods :
A total of 16 subjects were recruited for this study. All underwent visual acuity scoring, visible spectrum microperimetry (523nm green) and 2-Photon Infrared (1045nm) microperimetry of the fovea.
We compared performance of each test by plotting visual sensitivity based on subject age, and presence of ARMD .
Results :
All patients enrolled had Snellen VA 20/30 or greater. 14 of 16 patients were phakic, and 2 were pseudophakic. 2PM-IR and green visible light microperimetry demonstrated similar trends of retinal sensitivity that decreased with age. There was a trend for ARMD eyes to have a slightly lower sensitivity in non-age matched subjects. Visible sensitivity recordings spanned 3 log units while IR sensitivity spanned 2 log units.
Conclusions :
2PM-IR microperimetry and green visible light microperimetry are attainable in patients with and without macular disease. Diseased maculas may demonstrate reductions in visual sensitivity for people with good visual acuity but more patients are needed to make this determination. It is yet to be determined whether aging cataracts are obviated by IR microperimetry.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.