title: Scotopic microperimetry in the early diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration: preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent clinical studies have shown that, in some degenerative retinal diseases, like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the sensitivity of the rods decreases more rapidly than the sensitivity of the cones. The aim of this study was to evaluate if there is a correlation between the presence of hard drusen at the macular level and the rod damage responsible for the reduction in scotopic retinal sensitivity in subjects at risk for AMD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors selected 24 subjects (14 men and 10 women) with an average age of 67.25 ± 5.7 years. Macular hard drusen were present in 50% of the subjects at the fundus oculi exam. The researchers evaluated the retinal sensitivity to light in mesopic and scotopic conditions of each subject with an MP-1 scotopic microperimeter (MP-1S).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In subjects with hard drusen in the fundus oculi examination, there was a statistically significant reduction in scotopic retinal sensitivity, while the mesopic retinal sensitivity was not compromised.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study revealed how the presence of hard drusen at the macular level is associated with a reduction in scotopic retinal sensitivity compared to a control group of healthy subjects. Retinal functionality in a scotopic setting examined with MP-1S could be useful in early diagnosis of AMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy ; Department of Sense Organs, Ocular Electrophysiology Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5512-0849
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nebbioso
authors.affiliation: Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5164-6635
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Geriatric, and Anesthetic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pescosolido
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055254:Night Vision; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000473:pathology*