VISUAL FUNCTION MEASURES IN EARLY AND INTERMEDIATE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Vision Science
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss.
• Assessing visual function in early dry AMD is crucial for clinical trials and patient management.
• Current methods may not fully capture the subtle visual deficits in early stages of the disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of computerized tests for low luminance visual acuity (LLVA), Cone Contrast Test (CCT), contrast sensitivity, and microperimetry in dry AMD patients.
• To assess the test-retest repeatability of these visual function metrics in individuals with dry AMD.

Main Methods:

• A prospective pilot study involving 30 participants (8 controls, 8 early AMD, 12 intermediate AMD).
• Subjects underwent testing for LLVA, contrast sensitivity, CCT, and microperimetry with eye tracking.
• Follow-up testing was conducted after approximately one month to assess repeatability.

Main Results:

• High test-retest repeatability (intraclass correlations >0.7) was observed for LLVA, CCT, and microperimetry.
• Intermediate AMD patients showed significant deficits in best-corrected visual acuity, LLVA, low luminance deficit, and red CCT compared to controls.
• Contrast sensitivity and green/blue CCT did not show significant differences between intermediate AMD patients and controls.

Conclusions:

• Computerized LLVA, microperimetry, and CCT are feasible and reliable tools for evaluating visual function in early dry AMD.
• These measures demonstrate potential as alternative endpoints for future clinical trials in dry AMD.
• Further investigation in a larger natural history study is recommended to validate these findings.