Normal values for microperimetry with the MAIA microperimeter: sensitivity and fixation analysis in healthy adults and children

Eur J Ophthalmol. 2017 Aug 30;27(5):607-613. doi: 10.5301/ejo.5000930. Epub 2017 Jan 23.

Abstract

Purpose: To establish normative values of retinal sensitivity and parameters describing the fixation pattern using macular analyzer integrity assessment (MAIA) microperimetry (Centervue, Padova, Italy) in adults and children.

Methods: A sample of 237 eyes of 237 healthy subjects aged between 10 and 70 years (mean age 30.63 ± 16.23 years) was evaluated using the MAIA microperimeter. The following parameters provided by the MAIA device were evaluated: average threshold (AT), macular integrity, fixation indexes (P1% and P2%), bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) for 95% and 63% of points, and horizontal (H) and vertical (V) axes of the ellipse of fixation. Differences between different age-related groups were evaluated. Correlation of microperimetric parameters with age was also assessed.

Results: Median retinal sensitivity of the overall sample was 32.90 dB (interquartile range 1.80 dB). Median P1 and P2 values were 98.00% (6.00) and 100.00% (1.00), respectively. Median BCEA for 95% and 63% of points were 2.40°2 (4.50) and 0.30°2 (0.50), respectively. Median H and V were 0.90° (0.80) and 0.90° (0.70), respectively. Age was significantly correlated with the following parameters in subjects from 21 to 70 years of age (p<0.01): AT (rho -0.47), P1 (rho -0.37), BCEA95 (rho 0.43), BCEA63 (rho 0.42), H (rho 0.43), and V (rho 0.40).

Conclusions: Retinal sensitivity in healthy eyes tends to decrease with age as well as the stability of the pattern of fixation. A normative database in terms of retinal sensitivity threshold and fixation performance can be established in this type of eyes.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Female
  • Fixation, Ocular / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Macula Lutea / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Visual Acuity*
  • Visual Field Tests / instrumentation*
  • Visual Fields / physiology*
  • Young Adult