Peripheral retinal function in age-related macular degeneration

J. S. Sunness, R. W. Massof, M. A. Johnson, D. Finkelstein and S. L. Fine

Aging changes are seen histopathologically outside the central retina, but have not been correlated with the presence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We studied 21 patients with drusen and AMD to see if peripheral retinal function changes are correlated with changes in the central retina. Electrooculogram Arden ratios were normal. Intensity-response analysis of dark-adapted electroretinogram b-waves and analysis of flicker electroretinograms were normal except for a small sensitivity loss presumed to reflect aging and lens yellowing. There was no difference between patients' severely involved AMD eye and their fellow eye with only drusen. Static perimetry showed sensitivity loss in the central 20 degrees, but normal thresholds peripheral to this. These results suggest that retinal function abnormalities in AMD are confined to the central retina, and the small age-related peripheral changes found do not correlate with the degree of AMD.

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