Table 1 Visual function endpoints.
Endpoint | Test | Indications | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BCVA | BCVA score Mean change in BCVA [21] Percentage of VA gain (>0, >5, >10, >15 letters) Percentage with VA >20/40 [50] | All ocular diseases | Widespread; inexpensive, rapid and intuitive to perform and understand; possibly self-administered; correlates with quality of life | Limited value in early disease and tracking small changes; does not consider BCVA changes during the study period |
LLVA | LLVA score [27] Mean change in LLVA [20] | AMD, DMO, DR, CSCR, IRD | Simple, inexpensive and rapid; possibly self-administered | Selected information (foveal function); related to the timepoint assessed |
Contrast sensitivity | Contrast sensitivity level (e.g., number of triplets on Pelli-Robson charts) Change in contrast sensitivity [20] | AMD, DMO, DR, refractive surgery, CSCR, IRD | Rapid and correlates with quality of life | Difficult to set up accurately; limited sensitivity; not well standardised and widespread; related to the timepoint assessed |
Perimetry | Mean sensitivity and mean deviation [1] | Glaucoma, neurological conditions, retinal diseases | Comprehensive measure of visual function | Need for adequate instruments and time; influenced by the conditions of execution and the patient’s learning curve |
Microperimetry | Scotopic/mesopic sensitivity [20] | AMD, DMO, vitreoretinal disorders, retinotoxicity disorders, macular dystrophies, IRD | Better understanding of morphology and function; particularly used to determine fixation in advanced AMD | Not widespread; long testing duration; related to the timepoint assessed; learning curve |
Dark adaptometry | AMD, DMO, DR To differentiate AMD from variants of genetic disease Early diagnosis of AMD progression if short-duration testing strategies prove effective | Assesses photoreceptor dynamic response | Need for adequate instruments and time; lack of standardisation; related to the timepoint assessed | |
Reading speed | Mean change in reading speed [20] | AMD, DMO, vitreoretinal disorders, refractive surgery | Strongly linked to vision-related quality of life | Lack of standardisation and agreement on methodology; dependent on patient literacy; related to the timepoint assessed |
