Dataset Information

Similar Sensitivity to Ladder Contours in Macular Degeneration Patients and Controls.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine whether people with central field loss (CFL) from macular degeneration have improved ability to recognize a particularly difficult spatial configuration embedded in noise, the peripherally-viewed 'ladder contour'. The visibility of these configuration has been linked to general contour integration ability and crowding limitations in peripheral vision.

Methods

We used a trial-based yes-no task. CFL patients and normally-sighted controls performed the task, looking for ladder contours embedded in a field of randomly oriented Gabor patches, at a range of stimulus presentation times (varying stimulus difficulty). Viewing eccentricity in CFL patients was set by their preferred retinal loci (PRLs) and matched artificially in the control group. The contours were presented so as to be tangent to the CFL region, given a patient's PRL location.

Results

CFL and normally-sighted groups performed similarly on the task. The only significant determinant of performance was the viewing eccentricity.

Conclusions

CFL patients do not seem to develop any improved ability to recognize ladder contours with their parafoveal retina, which suggests that there is no underlying improvement in contour integration or reduction in crowding limitations in the region of the PRL despite extended daily use.

SUBMITTER: Haun AM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4501758 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Similar Sensitivity to Ladder Contours in Macular Degeneration Patients and Controls.

Haun Andrew M AM Peli Eli E

PloS one 20150714 7

<h4>Purpose</h4>To determine whether people with central field loss (CFL) from macular degeneration have improved ability to recognize a particularly difficult spatial configuration embedded in noise, the peripherally-viewed 'ladder contour'. The visibility of these configuration has been linked to general contour integration ability and crowding limitations in peripheral vision.<h4>Methods</h4>We used a trial-based yes-no task. CFL patients and normally-sighted controls performed the task, look ...[more]

PMID: 26171784

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Intensive light exposure and beta-amyloid (A?) aggregates have been known as a risk factor for macular degeneration and an important component in the pathologic drusen structure involved in this disorder, respectively. However, it is unknown whether A? deposition mediates or exacerbates light exposure-induced pathogenesis of macular degeneration. Several studies including the one from us already showed accumulation of A? deposits in the retina in Alzheimer's transgenic mice. Using histopathological analysis combined with electroretinographic functional assessment, we investigated the effects of cyclic intensive light exposure (CILE) on the architecture of retina and related function in the APPswe/PS1bigenic mouse. RESULTS: Histopathological analysis has found significant loss of outer nuclear layer/photoreceptor outer segment and outer plexiform layer along with abnormal hypo- and hyper-pigmentation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), remarkable choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and exaggerated neuroinflammatory responses in the outer retina of APPswe/PS1 bigenic mice following cyclic intensive light exposure (CILE), whereas controls remained little change contrasted with age-matched non-transgenic littermates. CILE-induced degenerative changes in RPE are further confirmed by transmission electron microcopy and manifest as formation of basal laminar deposits, irregular thickening of Bruch's membrane (BrM), deposition of outer collagenous layer (OCL) in the subretinal space, and vacuolation in the RPE. Immunofluorescence microscopy reveals drusenoid A? deposits in RPE as well as neovessels attached which are associated with disruption of RPE integrity and provoked neuroinflammatory response as indicated by markedly increased retinal infiltration of microglia. Moreover, both immunohistochemistry and Western blots detect an induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in RPE, which corroborates increased CNV in the outer retina in the bigenic mice challenged by CILE. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that degenerative changes in the outer retina in the APPswe/PS1 bigenic mouse induced by CILE are consistent with these in AMD. These results suggest that an Alzheimer's transgenic animal model with accumulation of A? deposits might be an alternative animal model for AMD, if combined with other confounding factors such as intensive light exposure for AMD.

Dataset Information

Similar Sensitivity to Ladder Contours in Macular Degeneration Patients and Controls.

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Similar Sensitivity to Ladder Contours in Macular Degeneration Patients and Controls.

Similar Datasets

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