Changes in macular function throughout adulthood.

Recent reports suggest that the neural system is the principal cause of loss of visual function with age and that senile lenticular and pupillary changes are of minor importance. In order to investigate this neural deterioration further we measured Logmar visual acuity and photostress recovery time (PSRT) in 61 subjects over an age range of 19 to 78 years. The magnitude of the PSRT reflects the efficiency with which the visual system recovers from exposure to a glare source and is principally dependent upon the integrity of the photoreceptors and the retinal pigment epithelium. The results indicate that macular function declines significantly throughout adulthood.