Retinal-image quality and contrast-sensitivity function in age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
In this article, retinal-image quality and contrast sensitivity were measured in 25 patients with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and 15 patients with normal retinal health.


METHODS
Retinal-image quality was evaluated with an objective device based on the double-pass technique, and for visual performance we measured the contrast-sensitivity function.


RESULTS
The results from double-pass device revealed the Strehl ratio to be significantly (p < 0.0001) lower for the ARMD group with a 54.3% reduction for 3 mm pupil size and a 46.9% reduction for 4 mm. Contrast-sensitivity function for ARMD subjects was also significantly lower than for the control group (p < 0.05) with a 38.6% reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients affected with ARMD showed poorer retinal-image quality and visual performance than normal subjects. The use of objective devices based on the double-pass technique could be useful for the accurate description of the retinal-image quality of ARMD eyes, in which retinal scattering is significantly increased.
Ortiz
Carolina
C
Departament of Optics, Laboratory of Vision Sciences and Applications, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. ortizh@ugr.es
Jiménez
José R
JR
Pérez-Ocón
Francisco
F
Castro
José J
JJ
González-Anera
Rosario
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014787:Vision Tests