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Reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) could be present not only in the posterior pole but extramacular area also as a confluent morphological pattern. Thus RPD can be classified by the fundus distribution for the assessment of visual prognosis. The electrophysiological function in eyes with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD), showing various fundus distribution were evaluated using full-field electroretinogram (ERG). Retinal distribution of RPD was divided into three types (localized, intermediate, and diffuse) according to the extent of involvement of retinal areas by fundus photograph montages. RPD were present with the diffuse type in 21 eyes (25.6%), with the intermediate type in 30 eyes (36.6%), and with the localized type in 31 eyes (37.8%). The average age was 74.76 ± 4.52 (range, 65-81) years in the diffuse type, 72.47 ± 9.13 (range, 55-91) years in the intermediate type, and 70.26 ± 7.77 (range, 61-89) years in the localized type. The mean amplitudes of the scotopic rod response, scotopic maximal combined response, oscillatory potentials (OP), photopic cone response, and 30Hz cone flicker response were more decreased in the diffuse, intermediate, and localized types in order, except for the photopic cone a-wave response. The diffuse type showed reduced amplitudes of ERG responses than the normal control group under all testing conditions except for the photopic a-wave response, and differences were statistically significant with the age restriction and adjustment methods (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05). The mean implicit times of ERG responses were significantly delayed in the diffuse type in the photopic b-wave. (Bonferroni-corrected P < 0.05). Extensive retinal involvement of RPD correlates with severely reduced electrophysiological retinal function. This acquired form of decreased electrophysiological function should be regarded as different from those of hereditary retinal degeneration.

Background To evaluate the morphological features and prevalence of accompanying late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) according to the fundus distribution of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). Methods According to the involved area in the fundus, the distribution of RPD was classified as localised, intermediate, or diffuse type. Morphology of RPD was classified as discrete, branching, or confluent pattern. The presence of late AMD was evaluated. Results 233 eyes of 121 patients with RPD were included. The distribution of RPD was localised, intermediate and diffuse type in 30.9%, 40.3% and 28.8% of eyes, respectively. The discrete, branching and confluent morphological patterns were found in 45.8%, 44.8% and 9.7% of the localised type, and in 0%, 13.8% and 86.2% of the intermediate type, respectively. In contrast, the diffuse type showed only the confluent morphological pattern. The prevalence of accompanying late AMD was 13.9%, 13.8% and 56.7% in the localised, intermediate and diffuse type, respectively, and it was significantly higher in the diffuse type (p Conclusion RPD with diffuse distribution showed a confluent morphological pattern and a high prevalence of late AMD. RPD can be classified by the fundus distribution for the assessment of visual prognosis.

PURPOSE We evaluated the potential of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) as a noninvasive biomarker of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and its utility as a tool for monitoring therapeutic response in laser-induced rat CNV models. METHODS CNV was induced in the right eyes of 14 rats using a laser. Rats (n = 7) were treated daily for 14 days with a candidate drug (KR-31831, 50 mg/kg of body weight) having antiangiogenic effects, whereas control rats (n = 7) were treated with the vehicle alone (10% cremophor, 10% absolute ethyl alcohol, and 80% saline). DCE-MRI examinations were performed on the day before surgery (D - 1), and 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery (D + 3, D + 7, and D + 14), from which pharmacokinetic parameters (K(trans), v(e), v(p)) were calculated. Angiography was performed to visualize CNV using FITC-labeled high molecular weight dextran after MRI on D + 14. The paired Wilcoxon test and Mann-Whitney U test were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS The K(trans) and v(e) values of the CNV-induced right eyes were significantly higher than those of the intact eyes in control rats at D + 14 (P < 0.05). In the CNV-induced eyes, the relative K(trans) and v(e) values of the KR-31831-treated group were significantly lower than those of the nontreated group at D + 14 (P < 0.05). The angiography showed that decreased CNV was observed in rats treated with KR-31831. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative DCE-MRI produces noninvasive biomarker of CNV, thus allowing monitoring of therapeutic response of antiangiogenic drugs in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

To clarify the clinical characteristics of reticular pseudodrusen in Korean patients.Retrospective, observational, consecutive case series.A total of 255 eyes of 130 patients diagnosed with reticular pseudodrusen were evaluated. Reticular pseudodrusen were diagnosed by characteristic fundus findings using ophthalmoscopy, color fundus photography with blue-channel examination, near-infrared photography, red-free photography, autofluorescence imaging, fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was determined by the International Classification and Grading System.The mean age was 72.6 ± 9.0 years (range, 43 to 92 years). Most reticular pseudodrusen patients had bilateral disease (97.7%), with a female preponderance (86.2%). All 3 patients who showed unilateral reticular pseudodrusen had neovascular AMD in the eye with no reticular pseudodrusen. AMD was found in 183 eyes (71.8 %), among which early AMD was found in 115 eyes (45.1%), geographic atrophy was found in 41 eyes (16.1%), and neovascular AMD was found in 27 eyes (10.6%). The mean age of patients with AMD and with no AMD was 73.7 ± 9.2 years (range, 58 to 92 years) and 69.9 ± 11.7 years (range, 43 to 90 years), respectively, and there was a statistical difference between these 2 groups (P.05). Classic choroidal neovascularization was found in 13 eyes (48.1%), and occult choroidal neovascularization was found in 14 eyes (51.9%) in the neovascular AMD group.Reticular pseudodrusen occurs in Koreans, and clinical manifestations of reticular pseudodrusen in Koreans did not differ significantly from those described in white persons. However, our study demonstrated a higher rate of bilaterality compared with those previously reported, and geographic atrophy was found to be associated more commonly with reticular pseudodrusen than with neovascular AMD. Ethnical differences may be associated with these findings, and further studies are required.