Scanning laser entoptic perimetry for the detection of age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE To determine the sensitivity and specificity of scanning laser entoptic perimetry for detecting visual function damage due to age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). METHODS We measured the presence or absence of visual field disturbances by entoptic perimetry and determined the severity of ARMD based on masked readings of fundus photographs. A prospective masked study comparing the findings of entoptic perimetry with fundus photographs was performed. We recruited 91 patients with ARMD and 24 patients without ARMD during ophthalmologic visits. An appropriate institutional review board approval was obtained for the project. The main outcome measure was the detection of visual scotomata. RESULTS Scanning laser entoptic perimetry had an overall sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 100% for the detection of ARMD. The sensitivity for early stages of the disease is greater than 70%, and increases to above 90% for moderate to late stages. CONCLUSION Scanning laser entoptic perimetry is a specific and sensitive test for detecting ARMD, even at the earliest stages when patients are typically asymptomatic.