Normal values of mesopic and scotopic retinal sensitivity using microperimetry in a healthy reference population.

Abstract

Purpose : To determine normal values of mesopic and scotopic retinal sensitivity obtained by microperimetry , using MP3s microperimeter (Nidek, Gamagori, Japan), in a healthy population. Secondly, to assess the association among retinal sensitivity, gender and age.

Methods : Microperimetry was performed using the Nidek MP3s system (Nidek, Gamagori, Japan) with a 13-point fovea-centered pattern in mesopic and scotopic mode in volunteers which did not present fundoscopic alteration or structural OCT changes compatible with maculopathy. All of them presented a corrected visual acuity of 1.0 on a decimal scale (0.00 Log Mar) and a spherical equivalent less than +/- 5.0 D. A intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was performed to evaluate mesopic and scotopic microperimetry reliability.

Results : We analyzed 102 eyes of 54 patients (62.7% male and 37.3% female) with a mean age of 49.8 +/- 15 years old (p=.14) The mesopic and scotopic mean retinal sensitivity (MRS) was 28.55 ± 3.3 dB (95% CI=[27.87-29.23]) and 15.72 ± 1.9 dB (95% CI=[15.35-16.09]) respectively, showing a significant statistical difference (p <0.05).
There were no statistical significant differences related to gender and MRS in both microperimetry modes. Regarding to age we divided the patients into quartiles (<39 y; 40-53 y; 54-67 y; >67 y). MRS was higher in the <35 years old group (mesopic: 30.3 ± 1.7 dB and scotopic: 16.3 ± 1.3 dB) and lower in the >67 years old group (mesopic: 26.7 ± 2.2 dB and scotopic: 13.8 ± 1.8 dB (p= .0001).
The reliability analysis of both tests, using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), revealed an excellent reliability of the mesopic microperimetry with a Crombach alpha of 0.958 (ICC = 0.958, f = 23.893, p <0.0001) and a good reliability of 0.841 (ICC = 0.841, f = 6.305, p <0.00) in scotopic microperimetry.

Conclusions : With the results of our study, we may conclude that there is no difference in mean retinal sensitivity related to gender, in the mesopic and scotopic tests, and that it decreases with age.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.