Characteristics of AMD patients with low vision receiving visual rehabilitation

The purpose of this retrospective study done on 255 AMD patients evaluated at a low vision rehabilitation service was: 1) to describe the visual funct ion characteristics (VFCs) of AMD patients presenting to visual rehabilitat ion, 2) to document changes in these VFCs between initial and followup reha bilitation visits, and 3) to investigate the relationship of the VFCs found at rehabilitation intake to the length of time between initial diagnosis a nd initial rehabilitation visit. Standard clinical testing (visual acuity a nd contrast sensitivity) as well as Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO) vis ual function testing were performed to determine visual function including: 1) macular perimetry for scotoma boundary mapping and 2) PRL (preferred re tinal locus) location and abilities in fixation, saccadic, and pursuit eye movements. The difference between the first and second visit VFCs were comp ared to the length of time between visits for 44 of the 255 patients return ing for a second visit 0.5 to 4.5 years later. Finally, the initial date of AMD diagnosis was found for 51 of the 255 patients to analyze VFCs as a fu nction of the time duration between diagnosis and the intake to the rehabil itation. Most VFCs had a wide range of results at initial intake to rehabil itation, while all patients had significant visual impairment by 24 months after initial diagnosis. The majority of low vision patients with AMD have bilateral central scotomas with the corresponding visual function and ADL p roblems that can often be overcome with visual rehabilitation.