Assessing age-related macular degeneration with the ADREV performance-based measure

To validate a new third-generation performance-based measure titled the "assessment of disability related to vision" (ADREV) in a study population of individuals with age-related macular degeneration.

Patients with either exudative or nonexudative age-related macular degeneration, but without ocular comorbidity, completed the ADREV, the 25-item National Eye Institute's visual functioning questionnaire, and a range of clinical assessments. Correlations were calculated between the data provided by the ADREV, visual functioning questionnaire, and clinical ophthalmic measures. Regression and bootstrap analysis were preformed to determine the relative relationship between specific clinical measures and ADREV performance, while controlling for a range of potentially confounding factors.

One hundred twelve patients completed the study and correlative analysis showed that ADREV total and subscale scores were more related to nearly all measures of clinical ophthalmic status in comparison with the data provided by the visual functioning questionnaire. Significant correlative relationships between ADREV and visual functioning questionnaire scores showed moderate to high correlation. Central visual acuity and contrast sensitivity shared the strongest association with performance of activities.

The ADREV is a valid instrument for the assessment of visual disability in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, the data provided by this performance measure had stronger relationships with clinical indicators of visual impairment in comparison with self-report.