Scotoma size and reading speed in patients with subfoveal occult choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE To investigate the correlation between reading speed and scotoma size in patients with subfoveal occult with no classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) participating at 2 of 28 centers in the Verteporfin in Photodynamic Therapy trial. DESIGN Prospective, observational case series. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-two eyes of 22 patients with occult with no classic CNV in AMD. METHODS Patients' reading speed was examined using a German-language reading test (Radner Lesetest). Scotoma size was measured using the microperimetry program 2.01 of the Rodenstock Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reading acuity, reading speed, size of absolute (AS) and relative scotoma (RS). RESULTS There was a significant correlation between the size of AS and reading speed (r = -0.48, P = 0.023), as well as AS and reading acuity (r = 0.52, P = 0.013). No correlation was seen between RS and reading speed or reading capacity. CONCLUSION The size of absolute scotoma correlated significantly with reading capacity and reading speed and may influence these measures.