Exclusion of influences of ARMS2 polymorphisms on the central visual field in retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of polymorphisms of the age-related maculopathy susceptibility 2 (ARMS2) gene on the central visual field defects in retinitis pigmentosa (RP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS The visual field was evaluated using the 10-2 Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm Fast Program and mean deviation (MD) slope, and regression coefficients of average sensitivity of the central 4 points (Cent4) were compared between each genetic subgroup. RESULTS The MD slope (right/left) was as follows: GG, -1.37 ± 2.18/ -0.89 ± 1.15; GT, -0.56 ± 1.40/-0.77 ± 1.04; TT, -0.75 ± 0.64/ -0.38 ± 0.92 dB/year. The Cent4 was as follows: GG, -1.34 ± 2.37/-1.60 ± 3.21; GT, -1.15 ± 2.08/1.07 ± 1.80; TT, -1.20 ± 0.91/-0.65 ± 1.37 dB/year. No significant differences in the degree of progression were observed when comparing groups. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that polymorphisms of the ARMS2 do not modify the progression of the central field of vision in RP patients.