Changes in reading parameters in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration after angiogenesis inhibitor therapy

Cover Page


Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Reading tests are increasingly used to assess visual function in patients with age-related macular degeneration, especially after intravitreal injections.

AIM: The study aimed to assess whether the developed standard ophthalmic test cards can be used as an additional method to monitor visual function in Russian-speaking patients with wet age-related macular degeneration before and after angiogenesis inhibitor therapy based on a comparative analysis of reading parameters and traditional near visual acuity.

METHODS: A total of 19 patients with emmetropia (38 eyes) aged 55–83 years were examined before and one month after intravitreal injection of aflibercept (2.0 mg). Treated and fellow eyes were included in group 1 and 2, respectively. Near visual acuity and reading parameters (maximum reading speed, critical print size, and reading visual acuity) were assessed using standard test cards.

RESULTS: Best corrected near visual acuity in group 1 increased by an average of 0.11 (p < 0.05) in 12 (63%) patients. Maximum reading speed increased by an average of 9.7 words/min (p < 0.05) in all patients (100%). Critical print size improved by 0.095 LogMAR (p < 0.05) in 13 (68%) patients, reading visual acuity improved by 0.094 LogMAR (p < 0.05) in 15 (79%) patients.

CONCLUSION: Standard Russian test cards assess the effectiveness of treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, and a substantial improvement in reading parameters after intravitreal injections of angiogenesis inhibitors compared with traditional near visual acuity supports their use in clinical practice.

Full Text

Restricted Access

About the authors

Sergey A. Koskin

Kirov Military Medical Academy

Email: eyemillenium@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3994-9232
SPIN-code: 9882-6880

MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Ivan R. Stepanets

Medical centre “Okodent”

Author for correspondence.
Email: stepanetsspbgmu@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1885-6483
SPIN-code: 6074-3969
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Kseniia A. Popova

German Family Clinic

Email: ksenia_001@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0009-2808-5628
SPIN-code: 7754-8921
Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

References

  1. Avo-portal.ru. [Internet]. Clinical guidelines. Age-related macular degeneration. 2024 [cited September 17, 2025]. Available from: http://avo-portal.ru/doc/fkr/odobrennye-nps-i-utverzhdennye-avo/item/398-vozrastnaya-makulyarnaya-degeneratsiya
  2. American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Patterns Committee. Preferred practice pattern® guidelines. Comprehensive adult medical eye evaluation. San Francisco: AAO; 2005.
  3. Avetisov SE, Egorov EA, Moshetova LK, et al editors. Ophthalmology: national guidelines. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media; 2018. (In Russ.)
  4. Talks SJ, Daien V, Mitchell P, et al. The patient voice in neovascular age-related macular degeneration: findings from a qualitative study. Ophthalmol Ther. 2023;12(1):561–575. doi: 10.1007/s40123-022-00631-7
  5. Granström T, Forsman H, Brorsson A-L, et al. Patients’ experiences before starting anti-VEGF treatment for sight-threatening diabetic macular oedema: A qualitative interview study. Nord J Nurs Res. 2017;38(1):11–17. doi: 10.1177/2057158517709409
  6. Koskin SA, Boiko EV, Shelepin YE. A system of visual acuity measurement for expertise practise. Bulletin of the Russian Military Medical Academy. 2007;3(19):81–86. EDN: KYKMBH
  7. Koskin SA, Boiko EV, Shelepin YE. Modern methods of measuring the resolving power of the visual system. Journal of Optical Technology. 2008;75(1):17–20. doi: 10.1364/JOT.75.000017 EDN: LLLPWT
  8. Rozhkova GI. LogMAR for visual acuity is worse than horsepower for electric lamp. Sensory systems. 2017;31(1):31–43. EDN: XVBTHD
  9. Koskin SA, Stepanets IR. Standardized ophthalmic tests for evaluation reading parameters: a brief historical review. Ophthalmology Reports. 2020;13(4):47–55. doi: 10.17816/OV50885 EDN: SHEACD
  10. Legge GE, Ross JA, Luebker A, LaMay JM. Psychophysics of reading. VIII. The Minnesota low-vision reading test. Optom Vis Sci. 1989;66(12):843–853. doi: 10.1097/00006324-198912000-00008.
  11. Patel PJ, Chen FK, da Cruz L, et al. Test-retest variability of reading performance metrics using MNREAD in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52(6):3854–3859. doi: 10.1007/s40123-020-00267-5
  12. Stepanets IR, Kulikov AN, Koskin SA, et al. Synthesis of isognostic text images for visual performance evaluation. Journal of Optical Technology. 2022;89(8):86–96. doi: 10.17586/1023-5086-2022-89-08-86-96 EDN: KOIMNC
  13. Fujita K, Yuzawa M, Nakamura H. Low vision aids for reading in scar stage of age-related macular degeneration. Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 2004;108(4):202–206. (In Japanese)
  14. Patel PJ, Chen FK, Da Cruz L, et al. Test-retest variability of reading performance metrics using MNREAD in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011;52(6):3854–3859. doi: 10.1167/iovs.10-6601
  15. Altinbay D, Adibelli M, Taskin I, Tekin A. the evaluation of reading performance with minnesota low vision reading charts in patients with age-related macular degeneration. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2016;23(4):302–306. doi: 10.4103/0974-9233.194078
  16. Patel PJ, Jayaram H, Eleftheriadou M, et al. Individualizing therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration with aflibercept (VITAL): A two-year prospective, interventional single-centre trial. Ophthalmol Ther. 2020;9(3):563–576. doi: 10.1007/s40123-020-00267-5
  17. Altinbay D, Idil A, Sahli E. How much do clinical and microperimetric findings affect reading speed in low vision patients with age-related macular degeneration? Curr Eye Res. 2021;46(10):1581–1588. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2021.1896740
  18. Ro-Mase T, Ishiko S, Yoshida A. Effect of illumination on reading performance in Japanese patients with age-related macular degeneration. Jpn J Ophthalmol. 2020;64(6):597–604. doi: 10.1007/s10384-020-00769-6
  19. Xiong Y-Z, Lorsung EA, Mansfield JS, et al. fonts designed for macular degeneration: impact on reading. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018;59(10):4182–4189. doi: 10.1167/iovs.18-24334
  20. Stepanets IR, Kulikov AN, Koskin SA, Zhilichuk DI. Development of a Russian version of the Minnesota low vision reading chart. Russian Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology. 2022;22(3):150–155. doi: 10.32364/2311-7729-2022-22-3-150-155 EDN: DBLNNF
  21. Stepanets IR, Kulikov AN, Koskin SA, Kovalevskaya IS. Intermittent exotropia with convergence insufficiency — diagnostics, methods of invasive treatment. Ophthalmology Reports. 2022;15(4):75–83. doi: 10.17816/OV112480 EDN: XAGLBA
  22. Golovin SS. Demonstration of tables for studying visual acuity for near vision, proposed by Prof. Golovin SS and Dr. Sivtsev at the 1st All-Russian Congress of Ophthalmologists in Leningrad, June 5–7, 1928. Russian Ophthalmological Journal. 1928;8(1):99. (In Russ.)
  23. Spassky VI. Some comments on the new “Fonts for measuring vision at close range” by Prof. S.S. Golovin and Dr. D.A. Sivtsev. Russian Ophthalmological Journal. 1929;9(6):764–765. (In Russ.)

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download
2. Fig. 1. One side of test card No. 2.

Download (235KB)
Indexing metadata
3. Fig. 3. Comparison of near visual acuity before and after intravitreal injections of angiogenesis inhibitors in groups 1 and 2.

Download (54KB)
Indexing metadata
4. Fig. 4. Comparison of maximum reading speed before and after intravitreal injections of angiogenesis inhibitors in groups 1 and 2.

Download (51KB)
Indexing metadata
5. Fig. 5. Comparison of critical print size before and after intravitreal injections of angiogenesis inhibitors in groups 1 and 2.

Download (49KB)
Indexing metadata
6. Fig. 6. Comparison of reading visual acuity before and after intravitreal injections of angiogenesis inhibitors in groups 1 and 2.

Download (51KB)
Indexing metadata

Copyright (c) 2026 Eco-Vector

License URL: https://eco-vector.com/for_authors.php#07
СМИ зарегистрировано Федеральной службой по надзору в сфере связи, информационных технологий и массовых коммуникаций (Роскомнадзор).
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ПИ № ФС 77-65574 от 04 мая 2016 г.