Exploratory Study on Visual Acuity and Patient-Perceived Visual Function in Patients with Subretinal Drusenoid...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Diseases
• Vision Science

Background:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) classification is evolving.
• Subretinal drusenoid deposits (SDD) are increasingly recognized in AMD.
• Understanding SDD's impact on visual function is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate visual acuity and perceived visual function with SDD in AMD classification.
• To compare visual function tests across different AMD stages including SDD.
• To determine the utility of low luminance deficit (LLD) and low luminance questionnaire (LLQ) in assessing SDD impact.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 50 participants across healthy aging, intermediate AMD (with/without SDD), and atrophic AMD groups.
• Measured best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and low luminance visual acuity (LLVA).
• Calculated LLD and administered the LLQ; analyzed data using linear regression.

Main Results:

• BCVA and LLVA were reduced in atrophic AMD and in patients with SDD compared to healthy controls.
• Atrophic AMD patients showed reduced BCVA and LLVA versus intermediate AMD without SDD.
• LLD did not differ between groups; LLQ correlated with current AMD classification but not SDD presence.

Conclusions:

• LLD is not a reliable clinical marker for AMD disease severity.
• The LLQ reflects general AMD severity but doesn't distinguish SDD presence.
• Eyes with geographic atrophy and SDD exhibit poorer visual function than those without SDD and healthy controls.