Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the baseline characteristics of a large international cohort of patients with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel Type 2) in anticipation of a longitudinal natural history study to evaluate structural and functional changes, identify potential risk factors and related outcomes.
METHODS: Images including fundus photographs, fluorescein angiograms, optical coherence tomography and fundus autofluorescence were collected. A grading system for MacTel type 2 was developed by the central reading center to evaluate lesion characteristics. Relationships between lesion characteristics and visual acuity were evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 310 participants have been enrolled in the study. The mean time since diagnosis was 3 years (range 0 to 25 years). The mean age at the baseline examination was 61 +/- 9 years. The mean visual acuity in the better eye was approximately 20/32 Snellen equivalents and approximately 20/50 in the worse eye. The visual acuity in the better eye of half of the participants was 20/32 or better. We found some relationships between visual acuity and lesions characteristic of MacTel Type 2.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale study of patients with MacTel Type 2. More than half of the patients had 20/32 or better vision in their better eye, which is a sign that decreased function in these participants may not be reflected in central visual acuity. These findings highlight the limitation of using visual acuity measurements as a measure of function and as an outcome measure in potential clinical trials in patients with MacTel Type 2.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 66-73 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Ophthalmic Epidemiology |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 27 Jan 2010 |
Keywords
- Aged
- Female
- Fluorescein Angiography
- Health Status
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Photography
- Retinal Diseases
- Retinal Vessels
- Risk Factors
- Telangiectasis
- Time Factors
- Tomography, Optical Coherence
- Visual Acuity
- Journal Article
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't