FUNCTIONAL METHODS OF EARLY DIAGNOSTICS OF AGE MACULAR DEGENERATION.(LITERATURE REVIEW)
This article provides an unsystematic literature review devoted to analyzing the currently existing methods of functional diagnostics for age-related macular degeneration.The essence, advantages and disadvantages, and literature data on the use of such methods asphotostresstest, electrooculography, dark adaptation study, contrast sensitivity function assessment, light and color sensitivity study,electroretinographyand critical flicker fusion frequencyare described.Based on the analysis of literature data, itis shownthat currently, there is a need to searchfor informative and accessible methods of functional diagnostics in age-related macular degeneration, especially for its early diagnosis. The analysis has shown that the existing methods are mainly aimed either at fixing secondary morphological changes in the layer of pigment epithelial cells, at identifying the pathology of the pigment epithelium in conjunction with determining the function of photoreceptor elements, or at a comprehensive assessment of the structures of several layers of the retina. Keywords:age-related macular degeneration; methods of functional diagnostics; photostress test; electrooculography; contrast sensitivity