Relating retinal morphology and function in aging and early to intermediate age-related macular degeneration subjects

Abstract Purpose To evaluate relationships between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) morphology on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) and visual function. Design Cross-sectional, observational. Methods From the Alabama Study on Early AMD baseline visit, visual acuity, cone-mediated sensitivity (Humphrey Field Analyzer, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA), rod-mediated dark adaptation (AdaptDx, MacuLogix, Hummelstown, PA), and SDOCT (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) were obtained in one eye per subject with No Apparent Retinal Aging (N=15), Normal Aging (N=15), Early AMD (N=15), and Intermediate (N=46) AMD. The volumes of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-drusen-complex, RPE-drusen-complex abnormal thinning, RPE-drusen-complex abnormal thickening and inner and outer retina were calculated in specified regions using semi-automated SDOCT segmentation. Results Better cone-mediated sensitivity was associated with greater RPE-drusen-complex volume (r=0.34, p