Impact of reticular pseudodrusen on macular function.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of reticular pseudodrusen on macular function using microperimetry.

Methods: Eighteen consecutive patients (18 eyes) with reticular pseudodrusen (Group 1), and without medium/large drusen, underwent microperimetry. Eighteen age-matched and sex-matched subjects (18 eyes) with typical drusen and without pseudodrusen (Group 2) also underwent microperimetry. Macular sensitivity was assessed by microperimetry and compared between the two Groups.

Results: Mean age of patients with reticular pseudodrusen and with typical drusen was 77.3 ± 6.8 years and 75.0 ± 9.9 years, respectively (P = 0.4), and 61.1% and 61.1% were women, respectively. Mean best-corrected visual acuity was 0.14 ± 0.09 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution and 0.13 ± 0.09 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (P = 0.8) in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. Microperimetry revealed a significant difference in overall mean macular sensitivity ("square 7 × 7"; 49 points) between Group 1 and Group 2 (5.9 ± 1.7 dB vs. 8.8 ± 2.4 dB, P < 0.001). Both mean central macular sensitivity ("square 3 × 3"; 9 points) and mean peripheral macular microperimetric sensitivity (overall "square 7 × 7" - central "square 3 × 3"; 40 points) were significantly reduced in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (central macular sensitivity: 6.9 ± 1.7 dB vs. 8.9 ± 2.6 dB in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively; P = 0.01; peripheral macular sensitivity: 5.7 ± 1.8 dB vs. 8.7 ± 2.3 dB in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively; P < 0.001). In Group 1, mean peripheral sensitivity was reduced when compared with mean central sensitivity (5.7 ± 1.8 dB vs. 6.9 ± 1.7 dB, P = 0.01), whereas in Group 2, mean sensitivity was similar in both peripheral and central macula (8.7 ± 2.3 dB vs. 8.9 ± 2.6 dB, P = 0.4).

Conclusion: Eyes with reticular pseudodrusen present a greater extent of reduced sensitivity than eyes with typical drusen.