Topical fundus pulsation measurements in age-related macular degeneration

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate regional fundus pulsations in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients with subretinal neovascular membranes. Methods: Local fundus pulsation amplitudes (FPAs) were measured in 12 patients with AMD with classic neovascular membranes. Measurements were performed directly on the membrane and adjacent to the membrane, FPAs were assessed with a recently developed laser interferometric method. FPA measurements were performed in 12 healthy subjects at similar posterior pole locations. Results: In AMD patients FPAs were consistently lower when measured directly on the neovascular membrane ('inside') than at measurement sites around the membrane ('outside'), The difference in FPA was 26 ± 3% (mean ± SEM, range 13-40%, P < 0.0001). In healthy subjects, however, FPAs were significantly higher at the measurement points corresponding to 'inside' points (15 ± 4%, P < 0.0006). Conclusions: We have shown that FPAs are reduced at classic neovascular membranes in patients with AMD. The mechanism behind this finding remains unclear. Hence, future studies have to ascertain whether this observation is associated with changes in fundus layers or with local choroidal perfusion abnormalities.