Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — A longitudinal study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests the ability to read, recognize faces or find a street sign will deteriorate significantly over time for adults with age-related geographic atrophy of the macula (GA). Results of the research will be presented this week at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
In this study, a questionnaire was completed at baseline and annually by subjects enrolled in the NIH-funded prospective natural history study of geographic atrophy from AMD from 1992-2000. At each visit, subjects were measured for best-corrected visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, reading rate, low luminance visual acuity and microperimetry. The GA area was measured using color fundus photographs.
The reports showed that subjects ‘difficulty in reading, haziness, face recognition and finding signs worsened with worse visual acuity and with larger GA area at baseline. Longitudinally, reading and face recognition deteriorated significantly.
According to the researchers, “This information will be helpful in designing quality of life questionnaires for future GA clinical trials.
Abstract Title: Quality Of Life Measures In Age-related Geographic Atrophy Of The Macula
Presentation Start/End Time: Sunday May 1, 2011; 8:30 – 10:15am
Location: Hall B/C
Session Number: 105
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The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include more than 12,500 eye and vision researchers from over 80 countries. ARVO encourages and assists research, training, publication and knowledge-sharing in vision and ophthalmology. For more information, visit www.arvo.org.
All abstracts accepted for presentation at the ARVO Annual Meeting represent previously unpublished data and conclusions. This research may be proprietary or may have been submitted for journal publication. Embargo policy: Journalists must seek approval from the presenter(s) before reporting data from paper or poster presentations. Press releases or stories on information presented at the ARVO Annual Meeting may not be released or published until the conclusion of the presentation.