title: Fixation pattern and macular sensitivity in eyes with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. A microperimetry study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of subfoveal choroidal neovascularizzation (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on macular functional parameters quantified with an automatic fundus perimeter.
  
  
  METHODS
  118 eyes of 98 consecutive patients with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD were evaluated. Best corrected visual acuity (ETDRS charts), fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography were performed. Microperimetry (fundus-related perimetry) was used to quantify macular sensitivity and fixation pattern (location and stability).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 118 eyes: 26 (21.9%) had central, 18 (15.1%) poor central and 74 (63.0%) eccentric fixation; 31 (26.0%) had stable, 42 (35.6%) relatively unstable and 45 (38.4%) unstable fixation. In 75 eyes (63.4%) a dense central scotoma was found. Angiographic classification of subfoveal CNV (occult versus classic) was not significantly related to fixation pattern (location: P = 0.274; stability: P = 0.385), and presence of dense scotoma (P = 0.41).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microperimetric quantification of macular sensitivity and fixation pattern in eyes with subfoveal CNV secondary to AMD offers new data about the impact of visual impairment in these eyes. Moreover, microperimetry improves the functional evaluation of subfoveal CNV in AMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. edoardo.midena@unipd.it
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Midena
authors.forename: Pietro Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Radin
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pilotto
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghirlando
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Convento
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Varano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods*