Presymptomatic Retinal Sensitivity Changes in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration Associated With New Retinal Fluid

PURPOSE: To determine whether change in retinal sensitivity in areas with subretinal or intraretinal fluid secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) precedes visual symptoms. If confirmed, retinal sensitivity testing could be used for home monitoring in AMD. METHODS: Individuals with intermediate AMD enrolled in a longitudinal study were seen every 6 months and underwent best-corrected visual acuity testing (BCVA), spectral domain–optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and microperimetry. Asymptomatic individuals who developed incidental, reading center–determined retinal fluid detected on SD-OCT were identified. The point-wise sensitivity (PWS) at the time of fluid detection was compared with 6 and 12 months prior. RESULTS: Fourteen of 161 individuals developed fluid without symptoms. PWS over fluid areas at detection was reduced compared with 6 (difference −2.04 dB, P < 0.001) and 12 months (−2.27 dB, P < 0.001) prior. PWS over fluid areas was reduced compared with perifluid areas (difference −1.02 dB, P = 0.03), peripheral areas (−1.51 dB, P < 0.001), nonprogressed fellow eyes (−1.49 dB, P = 0.006), and nonprogressed age-matched intermediate AMD eyes (−2.29 dB, P = 0.001). No difference in BCVA was observed in eyes developing fluid compared to eyes that do not develop fluid (P = 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal areas with fluid on SD-OCT had a corresponding reduction in retinal sensitivity at the time of fluid detection compared with 6 and 12 months prior, in asymptomatic intermediate AMD without change in BCVA. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: Development of self-monitoring tools to detect changes in retinal sensitivity may be helpful for early detection of retinal fluid suggestive of progression to neovascular AMD before acuity is affected.