Assessment of visual and cognitive function among patients with Stargardt Disease

This study aimed to assess the association between visual and cognitive impairment in patients with Stargardt Disease at the Low Vision Rehabilitation Centre, Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Rawaalpindi. It was a cross-sectional study conducted from September to December 2023 which included 32 patients (mean age 20.34 ± 7.9 years). Visual function was evaluated using LogMAR (Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution), Pelli Robson Chart, and Pseudo Isochromatic Plates, while cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Ray Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT). MoCA scores indicated cognitive impairment in 59.38% of patients. Pearson correlation showed no significant association between MoCA scores and visual acuity (p = 0.768) and between most RAVLT variables and visual acuity, except for RAVLT forgetting (p = 0.007). Although visual acuity was not directly linked to cognitive decline, many patients exhibited impairment, suggesting other contributing factors. Further research with a larger sample size is needed.