Topical fundus pulsation measurements in age-related macular degeneration.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the present study was to investigate regional fundus pulsations in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients with subretinal neovascular membranes.


METHODS
Local fundus pulsation amplitudes (FPAs) were measured in 12 patients with AMD with classic neovascular membranes. Measurements were performed directly on the membrane and adjacent to the membrane. FPAs were assessed with a recently developed laser interferometric method. FPA measurements were performed in 12 healthy subjects at similar posterior pole locations.


RESULTS
In AMD patients FPAs were consistently lower when measured directly on the neovascular membrane ("inside") than at measurement sites around the membrane ("outside"). The difference in FPA was 26 +/- 3% (mean +/- SEM, range 13-40%, P < 0.0001). In healthy subjects, however, FPAs were significantly higher at the measurement points corresponding to "inside" points (15 +/- 4%, P < 0.0006).


CONCLUSIONS
We have shown that FPAs are reduced at classic neovascular membranes in patients with AMD. The mechanism behind this finding remains unclear. Hence, future studies have to ascertain whether this observation is associated with changes in fundus layers or with local choroidal perfusion abnormalities.
Schmetterer
L
L
Institute of Medical Physics, University of Vienna, Austria.
Kruger
A
A
Findl
O
O
Breiteneder
H
H
Eichler
H G
HG
Wolzt
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010781:Photography; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology*