Microperimetry in age-related macular degeneration

Introduction: Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) usually present fixation and sensitivity abnormalities. The relationships between fundus lesions and functional abnormalities were evaluated with microperimetry. Patients and methods: A complete ophthalmologic examination, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and fundus-related perimetry (MP-1 Micro-Perimeter, Nidek Technologies, Padova, Italy) was performed in 80 eyes of 80 consecutive patients (43 females, 37 males) with AMD and in 20 matched healthy control subjects (111 females, nine males). Results: The patients' age ranged from 55 to 85 years and BCVA ranged from 20120 to 20/400. In patients with early AMD, fixation was foveal and stable, with presence of a relative or absolute scotoma in correspondence with the abnormal retinal areas. In eyes with dry AMD, an absolute scotoma corresponding to the atrophic retinal areas was found. In eyes with neovascular AMD, an absolute scotoma in correspondence with the neovascular areas was noted. All groups evaluated presented a strong correlation between visual acuity and fixation stability (p<0.01). Conclusion: Microperimetry is a noninvasive examination that provides new and useful information to better characterize AMD and to diagnose and evaluate the progression of AMD.