IMPORTANCE: There is a need for more sensitive measures of disease in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to evaluate novel interventions more effectively and expediently. OBJECTIVE: To determine if microperimetry and low luminance visual acuity can detect functional changes over a short duration of follow-up. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective longitudinal examination of 49 participants with consecutive AMD and 10 healthy participants in a research clinic from May 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013. Forty-one participants had intermediate AMD, 8 had nonfoveal geographic atrophy due to AMD. Participants underwent microperimetry examinations in 1 eye during a 12-month period at 6-month intervals for participants with AMD and at baseline and 12 months for control participants; low luminance visual acuity was performed at baseline and at 12 months for all participants. Changes in pathological features of intermediate AMD eyes were determined using side-by-side comparisons of color fundus photographs from the initial and final visit as remaining stable, progressed, or improved. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Microperimetric sensitivity and low luminance visual acuity. RESULTS: A reduction in mean (SE) microperimetric pointwise sensitivity was identified at 12 months compared with the baseline for intermediate AMD eyes graded as stable (-0.31 dB [0.10 dB]; P = .003) or worsened (-0.42 dB [0.12 dB]; P < .001) and an improvement in mean (SE) pointwise sensitivity was identified in eyes graded as improved (1.13 dB [0.23 dB]; P < .001). A reduction in mean (SE) pointwise sensitivity was identified in eyes with nonfoveal geographic atrophy at both 6 months (-1.41 dB [0.22 dB]; P < .001) and 12 months compared with the baseline (-2.56 dB [0.22 dB]; P < .001) while a change in mean (SE) pointwise sensitivity was not identified over the 12-month period for control participants (-0.11 dB [0.11 dB]; P = .34). No changes in best-corrected visual acuity or low luminance visual acuity were identified in all groups over the 12-month period (P ≥ .07). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Microperimetry detected subtle changes in visual function over a 12-month period in eyes with intermediate AMD but visual acuity measures did not identify any such changes. These findings suggest that microperimetry is worth exploring as a method for assessing the efficacy of novel interventions for intermediate AMD potentially requiring a shorter duration of follow-up.
IMPORTANCE: There is a need for more sensitive measures of disease in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) to evaluate novel interventions more effectively and expediently. OBJECTIVE: To determine if microperimetry and low luminance visual acuity can detect functional changes over a short duration of follow-up. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Prospective longitudinal examination of 49 participants with consecutive AMD and 10 healthy participants in a research clinic from May 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013. Forty-one participants had intermediate AMD, 8 had nonfoveal geographic atrophy due to AMD. Participants underwent microperimetry examinations in 1 eye during a 12-month period at 6-month intervals for participants with AMD and at baseline and 12 months for control participants; low luminance visual acuity was performed at baseline and at 12 months for all participants. Changes in pathological features of intermediate AMD eyes were determined using side-by-side comparisons of color fundus photographs from the initial and final visit as remaining stable, progressed, or improved. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Microperimetric sensitivity and low luminance visual acuity. RESULTS: A reduction in mean (SE) microperimetric pointwise sensitivity was identified at 12 months compared with the baseline for intermediate AMD eyes graded as stable (-0.31 dB [0.10 dB]; P = .003) or worsened (-0.42 dB [0.12 dB]; P < .001) and an improvement in mean (SE) pointwise sensitivity was identified in eyes graded as improved (1.13 dB [0.23 dB]; P < .001). A reduction in mean (SE) pointwise sensitivity was identified in eyes with nonfoveal geographic atrophy at both 6 months (-1.41 dB [0.22 dB]; P < .001) and 12 months compared with the baseline (-2.56 dB [0.22 dB]; P < .001) while a change in mean (SE) pointwise sensitivity was not identified over the 12-month period for control participants (-0.11 dB [0.11 dB]; P = .34). No changes in best-corrected visual acuity or low luminance visual acuity were identified in all groups over the 12-month period (P ≥ .07). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Microperimetry detected subtle changes in visual function over a 12-month period in eyes with intermediate AMD but visual acuity measures did not identify any such changes. These findings suggest that microperimetry is worth exploring as a method for assessing the efficacy of novel interventions for intermediate AMD potentially requiring a shorter duration of follow-up.
Authors: Jan H Terheyden; Robert P Finger; Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg; Hansjürgen Agostini; Claudia Dahlke; Laura Kuehlewein; Gabriele E Lang; Daniel Pauleikhoff; Armin Wolf; Michael K Boettger; Ulrich F O Luhmann; Friedrich Asmus; Frank G Holz Journal: Ophthalmologe Date: 2019-12 Impact factor: 1.059
Authors: Arthika Chandramohan; Sandra S Stinnett; John T Petrowski; Stefanie G Schuman; Cynthia A Toth; Scott W Cousins; Eleonora M Lad Journal: Retina Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 4.256
Authors: S Tammy Hsu; Atalie C Thompson; Sandra S Stinnett; Ulrich F O Luhmann; Lejla Vajzovic; Anupama Horne; Stefanie G Schuman; Cynthia A Toth; Scott W Cousins; Eleonora M Lad Journal: Ophthalmol Retina Date: 2019-03-21
Authors: Karl G Csaky; Praveen J Patel; Yasir J Sepah; David G Birch; Diana V Do; Michael S Ip; Robyn H Guymer; Chi D Luu; Shamika Gune; Hugh Lin; Daniela Ferrara Journal: Surv Ophthalmol Date: 2019-01-28 Impact factor: 6.048
Authors: Kimberly J Cocce; Sandra S Stinnett; Ulrich F O Luhmann; Lejla Vajzovic; Anupama Horne; Stefanie G Schuman; Cynthia A Toth; Scott W Cousins; Eleonora M Lad Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2018-03-15 Impact factor: 5.258
Authors: Eva K Fenwick; Ester P X Lee; Ryan E K Man; Kam Chun Ho; Raymond P Najjar; Dan Milea; Kelvin Y C Teo; Anna C S Tan; Shu Yen Lee; Ian Yew San Yeo; Gavin S W Tan; Ranjana Mathur; Tien Yin Wong; Chui Ming Gemmy Cheung; Ecosse L Lamoureux Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2021-09-25 Impact factor: 4.147