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Photoreceptor dysfunction in early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration assessed with mfERG and spectral domain OCT

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the changes of the photoreceptor layer (PRL) thickness with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and the retinal function by mfERG, as well as the correlation of morphology and function parameters in subjects with early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

Subjects with clinical diagnosis of early or intermediate AMD and age-matched healthy subjects were recruited prospectively in this study. Color fundus photography, SD-OCT, and mfERG were conducted. Retinal photoreceptor thickness was measured, and first-order kernel responses were recorded. The differences between AMD group and control group were compared, and the correlations between macular photoreceptor thickness and the mfERG were analyzed.

Results

PRL thickness (μm) in four areas including foveola and 0.5, 1.5, and 3 mm away from foveola was 192.48 ± 17.37, 163.73 ± 12.95, 130.93 ± 9.20, and 108.78 ± 7.81, respectively, in normal eyes, whereas in AMD group, they were 158.61 ± 45.25, 138.91 ± 20.92, 118.91 ± 12.85, and 95.00 ± 9.64, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean amplitude response densities of AMD patients decreased significantly compared to the control group in ring 1–6 (P < 0.001). The mean mfERG N1 and P1 latency of AMD patients prolonged compared to the control group, except the ring 1 (P = 0.588 and P = 0.084). The macular PRL thickness was significantly associated with the mfERGN1 and P1 amplitude density in ring 1–4 (r = 0.338–0.533, P < 0.01).

Conclusions

PRL thickness decreases are in accordance with the deterioration of retinal electrophysiological activity. The retinal PRL thickness is important parameter to assess of early and intermediate AMD severity.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China provided financial support in the form of the Young Scholar Funding (Grant Number: 81400426). The Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province and Guangzhou City also provided financial support in the form of International Cooperation Program (Grant Numbers: 2012B050600032 and 2013J4500019, respectively). The sponsor had no role in the design or conduct of this research.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 54 South Xianlie Road, Guangzhou, 510060, China

      Shasha Yang, Chengguo Zuo, Hui Xiao, Lan Mi, Guangwei Luo, Xiaoyu Xu & Xing Liu

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    1. Shasha Yang
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    2. Chengguo Zuo
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    3. Hui Xiao
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    7. Xing Liu
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    Correspondence to Xing Liu.

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    All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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    All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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    Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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    Shasha Yang and Chengguo Zuo have contributed equally to this work.

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    Yang, S., Zuo, C., Xiao, H. et al. Photoreceptor dysfunction in early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration assessed with mfERG and spectral domain OCT. Doc Ophthalmol 132, 17–26 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-016-9523-4

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10633-016-9523-4

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