Relationship between aqueous flare and visual function in retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: To investigate the correlation between aqueous flare values and central visual function in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Design: Retrospective, observational case series.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 160 patients diagnosed with typical RP and 59 control subjects. Aqueous flare values were measured by laser flare cell meter. The relationships between aqueous flare and best-corrected visual acuity (VA) and mean deviation (MD) of static perimetry tests were analyzed in RP patients.

Results: The aqueous flare values were significantly higher in the RP patients compared to the control subjects (10.6 ± 7.9 vs 5.0 ± 2.1 photon counts per millisecond [pc/ms], P < .0001). In the RP patients, the aqueous flare values were negatively correlated with VA (r = 0.359, P < .0001) and MD (r = -0.330, P < .0001). Age-subgroup analysis showed a significant correlation between aqueous flare and VA in the RP patients' 40s, 50s, and 60s and between aqueous flare and MD in the 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s. The RP patients with MD values ≥-15 decibels (dB) showed significantly higher levels of aqueous flare than those with MD values <-15 dB (12.0 ± 6.2 vs 8.7 ± 5.8, P = .0001).

Conclusions: Aqueous flare is increased in RP patients and negatively correlates with central visual function. These results suggest a close relationship between inflammation and central vision loss in RP.