Photobiomodulation reduces drusen volume and improves visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in dry age-related macular degeneration

Introduction. Macula lutea is the central part of the retina and it houses carotenoid macular pigments - lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin. It is considered that carotenoids can prevent or slow down the progression of the early age-related macular degeneration in some patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation with all three macular pigments on vision quality in patients with early agerelated macular degeneration. Material and Methods. This prospective study included 15 patients (25 eyes in total) with early age-related macular degeneration. All visual tests - visual acuity, glare sensation and contrast sensitivity, were performed at baseline and after 6 months of continuous supplementation with 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin, and 10 mg mesozeaxanthin. Results. The results showed that glare sensitivity improved in 20% of cases. Most of the examined eyes (76%) presented without visual acuity deterioration. Similar results were obtained for the contrast sensitivity test, where in 80% of cases vision quality remained stable or improved. There were no statistically significant differences between average values of examined parameters at baseline and after 6 months of supplementation. Conclusion. In most of the examined eyes (over 75%) visual quality remained stable or improvement of measured parameters was observed. This type of supplementation may improve visual performance or its preservation in patients with early age-related macular degeneration.

Download Full-text

Visual Function and Patient Satisfaction with Multifocal Intraocular Lenses in Patients with Glaucoma and Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1155/2021/9935983 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Carmen Sánchez-Sánchez ◽

Laureano A. Rementería-Capelo ◽

Beatriz Puerto ◽

Cristina López-Caballero ◽

Aida Morán ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Visual Function ◽

Intraocular Lenses ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Multifocal Intraocular Lenses ◽

Age Related ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Preperimetric Glaucoma

Purpose. To report visual function and self-reported satisfaction of patients with glaucoma and dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD) implanted with multifocal intraocular lenses (MIOL). Methods. Patients with glaucoma or dAMD as well as healthy individuals implanted with MIOL were invited to participate. Explorations performed were uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA), low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA), binocular contrast sensitivity, and defocus curves. Patients completed the Catquest-9 questionnaire and reported on the presence of dysphotopsias and the need for spectacles. Results. 38 subjects were included: 11 in the healthy/control group and 9 each in the preperimetric glaucoma, perimetric glaucoma, and dAMD groups. Controls had statistically better monocular UDVA, CDVA, and LCVA than patients with glaucoma and dAMD, as well as better binocular acuity in the defocus curves between −2.00 D and +0.50 D. Differences between controls and patients with preperimetric glaucoma were not statistically significant. Between −3.0 D and +0.5 D, all groups except dAMD achieved acuities better than 0.2 logMAR. Patients with dAMD had worse contrast sensitivity than all others for 3 cycles per degree (cpd), and patients with glaucoma had worse values than all others for 12 cpd; other differences did not reach statistical significance. Healthy subjects and patients with preperimetric glaucoma perceived halos more often than patients with glaucoma or dAMD, while suffering less from glare. Patients with glaucoma and dAMD found more difficulties when driving at night and required spectacles for near more often than the other subjects. Patients with dAMD were less satisfied with their vision. Conclusions. MIOLs may be implanted in patients with preperimetric glaucoma with little fear of patient dissatisfaction. In glaucoma and dAMD, MIOLs might be considered with caution, after explaining the increased risk of glare and the higher need for spectacle correction for reading.

Download Full-text

Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are two important factors affecting vision-related quality of life in advanced age-related macular degeneration

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0196481 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. e0196481 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Miin Roh ◽

Alexandra Selivanova ◽

Hyun Joon Shin ◽

Joan W. Miller ◽

Mary Lou Jackson

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Advanced Age ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Age Related ◽

Related Quality

Download Full-text

Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity outcomes in Indian eyes undergoing photodynamic therapy with intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide in age-related macular degeneration

Indian Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.4103/0301-4738.31942 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 207 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Atul Kumar ◽

Subijay Sinha ◽

Vikram Kumar

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Photodynamic Therapy ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Intravitreal Injection ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Triamcinolone Acetonide ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Age Related

Download Full-text

The impact of saffron (Crocus sativus) supplementation on visual function in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration

Italian Journal of Medicine ◽

10.4081/itjm.2016.758 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Abbas Riazi ◽

Yunes Panahi ◽

Ali Agha Alishiri ◽

Mohammad Ahmad Hosseini ◽

Ali Akbar Karimi Zarchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Visual Function ◽

Low Vision ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Crocus Sativus ◽

Control Group ◽

Age Related ◽

The Impact

The aim was to evaluate the impact of saffron supplementation on visual function in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Fifty-four participants, 23 male and 31 female, with dry ARMD were assigned to one of the following two groups. The treatment group (n=29) consumed 50 mg saffron daily during a 3- month period, while 25 subjects served as the control group. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and retinal thickness were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. Quality of life was evaluated using the Melbourne Low Vision Index (MLVI) before and after treatment. Significant increases in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were found in the saffron group but not in the control group. Changes in macular thickness were not statistically different between the two groups. Short-term consumption of saffron may slow down the progression of disease and improve visual function, especially contrast sensitivity, in patients with dry ARMD.

Download Full-text

Contrast sensitivity function in patients with macular disease and good visual acuity

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-318494 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. bjophthalmol-2020-318494

Author(s):

Karen M Wai ◽

Filippos Vingopoulos ◽

Itika Garg ◽

Megan Kasetty ◽

Rebecca F Silverman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Visual Function ◽

Sensitivity Function ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Macular Disease ◽

Age Related ◽

Spatial Frequencies ◽

Healthy Control

IntroductionContrast sensitivity function (CSF) may better estimate a patient’s visual function compared with visual acuity (VA). Our study evaluates the quick CSF (qCSF) method to measure visual function in eyes with macular disease and good letter acuity.MethodsPatients with maculopathies (retinal vein occlusion, macula-off retinal detachment, dry age-related macular degeneration and wet age-related macular degeneration) and good letter acuity (VA ≥20/30) were included. The qCSF method uses an intelligent algorithm to measure CSF across multiple spatial frequencies. All maculopathy eyes combined and individual macular disease groups were compared with healthy control eyes. Main outcomes included area under the log CSF (AULCSF) and six CS thresholds ranging from 1 cycle per degree (cpd) to 18 cpd.Results151 eyes with maculopathy and 93 control eyes with VA ≥20/30 were included. The presence of a maculopathy was associated with significant reduction in AULCSF (β: −0.174; p<0.001) and CS thresholds at all spatial frequencies except for 18 cpd (β: −0.094 to −0.200 log CS, all p<0.01) compared with controls. Reductions in CS thresholds were most notable at low and intermediate spatial frequencies (1.5 cpd, 3 cpd and 6 cpd).ConclusionCSF measured with the qCSF active learning method was found to be significantly reduced in eyes affected by macular disease despite good VA compared with healthy control eyes. The qCSF method is a promising clinical tool to quantify subtle visual deficits that may otherwise go unrecognised by current testing methods.

Download Full-text

Association of Vision-related Quality of Life with Visual Function in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-51769-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Susanne G. Pondorfer ◽

Jan. H. Terheyden ◽

Manuel Heinemann ◽

Maximilian W. M. Wintergerst ◽

Frank G. Holz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Visual Function ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Age Related ◽

Related Quality ◽

The Impact

Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess which visual function measures are most strongly associated with vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A cross-sectional study of subjects with early AMD (n = 10), intermediate AMD (n = 42) and late AMD (n = 38) was conducted. Subjects were interviewed with the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) questionnaire. Functional tests performed included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), low luminance visual acuity (LLVA), visual acuity measured with the Moorfields Acuity Charts (MAC), contrast sensitivity, reading speed, mesopic and dark-adapted microperimetry. The relationship between VRQoL and visual function was assessed with multiple regressions controlling for confounders. Rasch analysis demonstrated the validity of the IVI to assess VRQoL through three subscales: reading and accessing information, mobility and independence, and emotional well-being. Subjects with late AMD had significant lower IVI scores on all subscales compared with intermediate and early AMD (p < 0.011). In the overall cohort, IVI subscales were associated with BCVA, LLVA, MAC-VA and contrast sensitivity (all p < 0.001). Among the subgroup of early and intermediate AMD subjects, reading and mobility subscales were significantly associated with MAC-VA (p < 0.013). These results suggest that MAC-VA is a useful, patient-relevant measure of visual impairment in AMD.

Download Full-text

A comparison of contrast sensitivity in early mild and early intermediate age-related macular degeneration after adjusting for age and visual acuity

Acta medica Lituanica ◽

10.6001/actamedica.v22i4.3238 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 196-204

Author(s):

Rasa Liutkevičienė ◽

Rasa Čiumbaraitė ◽

Mantas Banevičius

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Contrast Sensitivity ◽

Visual Function ◽

Intermediate Stage ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

P Value ◽

Age Related ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

Background. It has been suggested that contrast sensitivity can provide valuable information about visual function in addition to visual acuity assessment. Some patients retain relatively good visual acuity, yet complain of poor vision. In these patients, other tests of visual function such as contrast sensitivity should be evaluated. Methods. We examined patients with early mild stage age-related macular degeneration (group 1), and early intermediate stage age-related macular degeneration (group 2). Digital analysis methodology was used for retina drusen localisation and its diameter measurement. Functional acuity contrast sensitivity tests (FACT) were performed using a Ginsburg Box, VSCR-CST-6500. Results. The nighttime results without glare in group 2 were worse at 1.5, 3, 6 and 18 cycles per degree of the visual angle, the daytime results without glare were worse at 3 and 6 cycles per degree. The nighttime results with glare were worse at 1.5, 3, 6 and 18 cycles per degree, and the daytime results with glare were worse at 1.5 and 3 cycles per degree. Results after adjusting for age and visual acuity to 1.0 in the group 1 patients were better compared to the group 2 patients and the p value was 0.0005. Conclusions. The test results in patients with early intermediate age-related macular degeneration, in comparison to early mild age-related macular degeneration, showed a significant decrease mostly in the nighttime either with or without glare in high and medium spatial frequencies (cycles/degree). After adjusting for age and visual acuity the FACT results were even worse in early intermediate AMD patients.

Download Full-text