Retinal sensitivity in angioid streaks

Purpose To investigate retinal sensitivity in eyes with angioid streaks (AS). Methods This study was a retrospective observational case series. A total of 13 eyes from 9 patients with AS underwent ophthalmologic examination, including fundus autofluorescence (FAF), spectral domain optical tomography (SD-OCT), and microperimetry. Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy was assessed using FAF. Outer retinal atrophy, more specifically, disruption of the ellipsoid zone, was evaluated using SD-OCT images. The association between retinal sensitivity, RPE atrophy or outer retinal atrophy, and patient demographic characteristics or ophthalmologic findings were investigated. Results The mean area of outer retinal atrophy was 14.5 +/- 12.9 mm(2), significantly larger than the mean area of RPE atrophy (9.0 +/- 9.0 mm(2); P=0.0028). The average retinal sensitivity in the area of RPE atrophy was 2.4 +/- 5.6 dB, that in the area of outer retinal atrophy outside RPE atrophy was 14.6 +/- 7.5 dB, and that in the area without any atrophy was 25.6 +/- 5.1 dB. Reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) was observed in 5 eyes. Eyes with RPD showed a greater extent of both outer retinal atrophy and RPE atrophy than those without RPD and a greater decrease in mean retinal sensitivity. Conclusions In eyes with AS, especially in those with RPD, large areas of outer retinal atrophy and RPE atrophy were observed, and the retinal sensitivity in the areas was correspondingly decreased.