This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Functional vision testing detects visual changes resulting from AMD
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
The functional visual acuity system and contrast visual acuity facilitate the evaluation of visual disturbances associated with age-related macular degeneration, according to research from Yohei Tomita, MD, and colleagues in Optometry & Vision Science.
The functional visual acuity (FVA) system requires patients to respond within 2 seconds when shown a series of charts, which differs from conventional visual acuity and contrast sensitivity testing that allows the patient to stare at the chart, the researchers explained.
Tomita and colleagues evaluated 28 patients with unilateral AMD and logMAR monocular best corrected VA better than 0 in both eyes as measured by conventional chart examination. The researchers measured conventional VA, FVA and contrast VA with best correction; performed routine eye exams, spectral domain OCT and Schirmer’s test; and also measured corneal and lens densities in both the affected eye and the healthy fellow eye.
The eyes with AMD had significantly worse conventional VA, FVA and contrast VA scores compared to healthy fellow eyes, they reported. No significant differences were found in Schirmer’s test results or in corneal or lens densities between affected and fellow eyes.
Functional VA value, but not contrast VA, correlated with age, they said.
“In conclusion, we have shown that the FVA system detected subtle changes in BCVA in AMD-affected eyes and reflected the extent of interdigitation zone disruption, an anatomical change in
the retina,” the authors wrote. “These results suggest that the FVA system is potentially useful for evaluating changes in central visual function caused by advanced AMD. Although further studies are required, the FVA system may facilitate the evaluation and treatment of AMD.” – by Abigail Sutton
Disclosure: The researchers reported no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts