Temporal sensitivity deficits in patients with high-risk drusen.
OBJECTIVE
Data is reported from an ongoing trial considering functional losses in patients with high-risk drusen. We evaluate the temporal processing in 12 subjects: four patients with high-risk drusen, four age-matched controls and four young observers aged 22-30.


METHODS
Subjects were tested using frequency-doubling technology, macula static and flicker fields on a Medmont perimeter and foveal temporal contrast sensitivity at 2, 5, 10 and 24 Hz.


RESULTS
Eyes with high-risk drusen had good visual acuity (6/9.5(-2) or better). All control eyes had normal fields for static, flicker and frequency-doubling perimetry. All high-risk drusen eyes had normal static perimetry in the presence of abnormal flicker and frequency-doubling perimetry. High-risk drusen eyes showed a generalized loss of temporal sensitivity across all frequencies.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that eyes with high-risk drusen show losses to temporal stimuli in the presence of near-normal acuity and static thresholds. We suggest that flickering stimuli might be useful for detecting and monitoring such patients.
Phipps
J A
JA
Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Guymer
R H
RH
Vingrys
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D006801:Humans; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields