OCT-Defined Atrophic Age-Related Macular Degeneration Changes Associated with Deep Visual Sensitivity Losses: A Multicenter Study.

16/07/2025

Ophthalmology science

Authors: Zhichao Wu, Barbara A Blodi, Frank G Holz, Glenn J Jaffe, Sandra Liakopoulos, Srinivas R Sadda, Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg, Mari Bonse, Tyler Brown, John Choong, Bailey Clifton, Giulia Corradetti, Lauren A B Hodgson, Anna M Lentzsch, Alireza Mahmoudi, Jeong W Pak, Marlene Saßmannshausen, Cindy Skalak, Leon von der Emde, Jordan Winkler, Robyn H Guymer

PURPOSE: To identify combination(s) of OCT changes that define atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) lesions associated with repeatable deep visual sensitivity defects.

DESIGN: Reader study.

PARTICIPANTS: One hundred seventy-one OCT scans from 60 eyes of 53 participants.

METHODS: Participants underwent 2 high-density targeted microperimetry tests (Macular Integrity Assessment device with Goldmann Size III stimuli) per visit of a 3.5° (approximately 1000 μm) diameter region-of-interest that had evidence of at least incomplete retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer retinal atrophy (iRORA). OCT B-scans within the region sampled on microperimetry were annotated by 12 readers from 6 established reading centers for 7 different features related to RPE and outer retinal atrophy. The prevalence of the presence of a repeatable ≤10 decibel (dB) defect on microperimetry for lesions categorized by 18 different combinations of such features, or criteria, was determined.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The criteria for OCT-defined atrophic changes showing a ≥90% prevalence of a repeatable ≤10 dB defect, which has previously shown to be characteristic of regions with a truly nonresponding test location on microperimetry.

RESULTS: Sixty percent of complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA) lesions-based on the presence of hypertransmission and RPE abnormalities ≥250 μm in width, with evidence of overlying photoreceptor (PR) degeneration, on an OCT B-scan-had a repeatable ≤10 dB defect. However, between 92% and 98% of lesions with both hypertransmission and complete RPE loss ≥500 μm, and with evidence of any size of any feature of overlying PR degeneration, had a repeatable ≤10 dB defect, depending on the criteria considered. Between 92% and 95% of lesions with hypertransmission ≥500 μm and either overlying external limiting membrane disruption, or outer plexiform layer and inner nuclear layer subsidence, and/or hyporeflective wedge-shaped band(s) ≥500 μm, with or without RPE abnormalities, had a repeatable ≤10 dB defect.

CONCLUSIONS: This study identified various criteria for OCT-defined atrophic AMD lesions with functional characteristics that can be expected of regions with a truly nonresponding test location on high-density targeted microperimetry testing (i.e., having a ≥90% prevalence of a repeatable ≤10 dB defect). Such OCT-defined lesions could thus serve as functionally relevant clinical endpoints of end-stage atrophic AMD to facilitate preventative treatment trials.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

PMID: 40893620