The natural history of dry type of age-related macular degeneration

To study the natural history of dry type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and search for a sensitive method for detecting the development of the disease, the fundus fluorescein angiography, visual acuity, electroretinogram and FM 100-hue test were used to examine 75 eyes, 147 eyes, 73 eyes, and 94 eyes respectively. These examinations were taken at least twice during the follow-up periods. The average age was 63.2 years (50-80 years). The average follow-up was 29.8 months with a range of 3-74 months. It was shown tht there were not any statistically significant difference in the macular lesions and electroretinogram between the initial examinations and after follow-up (P > 0.05). 91.14% of the eyes maintained good visual acuity during the follow-up. Subretinal neovascularization developed only in one of the eyes. The total error score of FM 100-hue test had a statistically significant difference between the initial test and the test taken two years afterwards (P < 0.01). It was suggested that most of the dry type of AMD had a favorable prognosis and that color visual test was a sensitive method for monitoring the development of dry type of AMD.