Contrast sensitivity as an outcome measure in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularisation due to age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE

Although visual acuity is the most frequently used primary outcome measure in clinical trials of treatments for choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), contrast sensitivity may provide valuable additional information. This paper reviews the evidence for using contrast sensitivity as a measure of visual function and as an outcome measure in clinical trials in patients with subfoveal CNV due to AMD.

METHODS

Medline database searches were performed to retrieve relevant articles on contrast sensitivity. In addition, articles were included from the authors' knowledge of the literature and from the reference lists of retrieved articles.

RESULTS

The published literature demonstrates that contrast sensitivity is an important measure of visual function in patients with subfoveal CNV due to AMD. Most clinical trials of treatments for CNV due to AMD have reported visual acuity as the primary outcome. However, there is evidence that treatment (such as verteporfin therapy) may also provide additional benefits in terms of contrast sensitivity. These benefits may not be completely characterised by measurement of visual acuity alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The inclusion of contrast sensitivity as an outcome measure in studies of patients with CNV due to AMD may provide a more complete understanding of the effects of treatment on visual function and the likely benefits for patients.