Multi‐focal electro‐retinogram response following sub‐threshold nano‐second laser intervention in age‐related macular degeneration.

Importance The effect of sub‐threshold nano‐second laser (SNL) treatment on retinal function remains unknown. Background: SNL treatment has been studied as a potential intervention in intermediate age‐related macular degeneration (iAMD). This study investigated the longitudinal effect of SNL treatment on retinal function. Design This was a sub‐study of the LEAD trial; a 36‐month, multi‐centre, randomized and sham‐controlled trial. Participants: Subjects with iAMD. Methods: Eligible participants were assigned randomly to receive SNL or sham treatment to the study eye at 6‐monthly visits. Multi‐focal electro‐retinography (mfERG) was performed at each study visit from a study site. The mfERG responses were grouped into three regions (central, middle and outer rings) and compared between the SNL and sham group. Main Outcome Measures: mfERG P1 response amplitude and implicit time. Results: Data were collected from 50 subjects (26 in the SNL group, 24 in the sham group). At baseline, the P1 amplitudes of both the study eyes and the fellow eyes were similar between the groups at all rings. In the sham group, the P1 amplitude gradually decreased over time (P <.05). In the SNL group, there was an improvement in P1 amplitude which became statistically significant at the 36‐month visit, detected in both the treated and fellow eyes at the central (P =.005) and middle ring (P =.007) but not at the outer ring (P =.070). No difference in P1 implicit time detected between the groups (P >.05). Conclusions and Relevance: SNL treatment improved electro‐physiological function. mfERG could be useful for monitoring AMD progression and evaluating the efficacy of SNL treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]