Preferential hyperacuity perimeter in the study of diabetic macular edema

Abstract

Introduction – Preferential hyperacuity perimeter (PHP) is a new psychophysical test, which principle is based on the detection of metamorphopsia in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is intended to verify its effectiveness in the study of diabetic macular edema (DME). When there is loss of pericytes in the vascular wall occur a number of microcirculatory changes that lead to the appearance of microaneurysms and other vascular changes that allow the passage of blood components to the surrounding retinal tissue than in normal situation does not occur, this being one of the causes exudative diabetic macular edema. Methodology – It was performed a quantitative study, using descriptive and correlational analysis. A sample of 33 patients was selected, and 60 eyes were analyzed. Results – The sensitivity of PHP on the detection of metamorphopsia associated to EMD was 70.6%, the specificity was 11.5% and the global efficiency of the test was 45%. It was found a weak negative correlation (Phi= -0.215) between thePHP and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Conclusions – This new method of diagnosis was sensitive, but not very specific and effective on the detection of metamorphopsia, due to the DME.

Keywords

• acuidade de Vernier, diabetes, edema macular diabético, metamorfopsias, perimetria de hiperacuidade preferencial.