Visual acuity loss in retinitis pigmentosa. Relationship to visual field loss
S. A. Madreperla, R. W. Palmer, R. W. Massof and D. Finkelstein
Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD.
We compared visual acuity with visual field radius in 235 patients with
typical retinitis pigmentosa and no evidence of other visual
acuity-limiting problems (such as cataract or foveal cystoid edema).
Results show a strong relationship between visual acuity loss and proximity
to the fovea of the visual field border (shortest distance from the foveal
center to the border of the V-4-e isopter) for these patients. Ninety-six
percent of patients with central visual field radii greater than 30 degrees
have visual acuities of 20/40 or better; 32% of patients with central
visual field radii smaller than 10 degrees have visual acuity of 20/40 or
better.
