Evaluation of the Correlation of Reading Ability and Fixation Status in Patients With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of the reading ability obtained by Minnesota low vision reading (MNREAD) and the fixation status by microperimetry and morphological status in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Material and methods We analyzed 25 consecutive nAMD patients and selected patients if the distance log MAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the studied eye was from 0.3 to 1.0. For reading ability, the reading visual acuity, maximum reading speed (MRS), and critical print size (CPS) were evaluated. Fixation stability (FS) was defined by the percentage of fixation points located within a circle of diameter 2° centered on all fixation points. For morphological status, central retinal thickness (CRT) and lesion size were evaluated. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine independent contributing factors for MRS and CPS. Single regression analyses were also used to determine the relationship between 2°FS, preferred retinal locus (PRL)-fovea distance, and other parameters. Results Fifteen patients had unilateral nAMD, and 10 patients had bilateral nAMD. The lesion size was identified as a factor independently contributing to the MRS. The BCVA of the fellow eye and 2°FS were identified as factors independently contributing to the CPS. The CRT and PRL-fovea distance were significantly negatively correlated with the 2°FS, and age was significantly negatively correlated with the PRL-fovea distance. Conclusion It is possible that there is a relationship between morphology, fixation status, and reading ability in Japanese patients with nAMD.