Abstract

Exudative age-related maculopathy (ARM) is the leading cause of visual loss in the United States among the elderly.¹,² The goal of our research is to identify those at risk for exudative ARM in advance of any symptom of visual change. A sensitive screening test could alert those at risk to more carefully monitor their vision for early visual distortion or loss so as not to delay clinical evaluation and treatment. A sensitive test might also give information about the progress and rate of development of pre-exudative stages of ARM. And as a continuous index of retinal health (rather than a measure reflecting visual loss resulting from the end-state of macular degeneration), such a screening test could prove useful in evaluating proposed treatments for early stages of exudative ARM.

© 1992 Optical Society of America