Yes / Fundus-controlled perimetry (FCP, also called 'microperimetry') allows for spatially-resolved mapping of visual sensitivity and measurement of fixation stability, both in clinical practice as well as research. The accurate spatial characterization of visual function enabled by FCP can provide insightful information about disease severity and progression not reflected by best-corrected visual acuity in a large range of disorders. This is especially important for monitoring of retinal diseases that initially spare the central retina in earlier disease stages. Improved intra- and inter-session retest-variability through fundus-tracking and precise point-wise follow-up examinations even in patients with unstable fixation represent key advantages of these technique. The design of disease-specific test patterns and protocols reduces the burden of extensive and time-consuming FCP testing, permitting a more meaningful and focused application. Recent developments also allow for photoreceptor-specific testing through implementation of dark-adapted chromatic and photopic testing. A detailed understanding of the variety of available devices and test settings is a key prerequisite for the design and optimization of FCP protocols in future natural history studies and clinical trials. Accordingly, this review describes the theoretical and technical background of FCP, its prior application in clinical and research settings, data that qualify the application of FCP as an outcome measure in clinical trials as well as ongoing and future developments.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:19:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissDFML.pdf: 4036926 bytes, checksum: 7de4e9f504405a41c208a231ddcb7e1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-26 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Several studies have shown the important role of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee proprioception. However, there are still few studies that had evaluate the characteristics of proprioception acuity in the early period of rehabilitation after the ACL-reconstructed surgery, over all when it was associated to functional outcomes. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate knee proprioception and subjective knee function in subjects who had an ACL injury, before and after (3 months) the reconstruction surgery with the middle third of patellar tendon autograft; and in control subjects. Ten volunteers who had unilateral ACL injury (26.9±6.8 years) reconstructed group - and fifteen health volunteers (22.1±3.0 years) control group performed a proprioceptive evaluation (joint position sense - JPS during active and passive movements, threshold for detection of passive movement TDPM) on a Biodex Multi-Joint System III Pro isokinetic dynamometer, at 2º/s and at two target-angles (30º and 60º of knee flexion). The variables analyzed were the mean of angular displacement (TDPM) and the mean of absolute error (JPS) in relation to each target-angle. The subjective knee function was evaluated by Lysholm scale. The analyses of variance showed subjective functional deficit in involved limb, compared to the uninvolved limb, as well as in relation to the control group, in both test moments (p<0.01). Although no significant, the results showed a tendency for higher TDPM in the reconstructed group (p=0.06). There was no significant difference in the mean of absolute error between the groups (p>0.05), for any modality of JPS, target-angles or test moments. The TDPM showed strong correlation with the subjective knee functional score (just in the involved limb). Under the experimental conditions utilized, the subjects who had an anterior cruciate ligament injury didn t show proprioceptive deficits in relation to the control group, although of the subjective functional limitations presented. / Diversos estudos têm evidenciado o importante papel do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) na propriocepção do joelho. No entanto, ainda há poucos estudos que tenham investigado as características da acuidade proprioceptiva no período inicial de reabilitação após a reconstrução cirúrgica do LCA, sobretudo quando associada a aspectos funcionais. Diante do exposto, foi objetivo do presente estudo avaliar a sensibilidade proprioceptiva e a função subjetiva do joelho em indivíduos com lesão do LCA, antes e após (3 meses) a reconstrução cirúrgica pelo terço médio do tendão patelar autógeno; e em indivíduos controle. Dez voluntários com lesão unilateral do LCA (26,9±6,8 anos) grupo reconstruído - e quinze clinicamente sadios (22,1±3,0 anos) - grupo controle - realizaram uma avaliação proprioceptiva (percepção da posição articular PPA - durante os movimentos ativo e passivo, limiar de detecção do movimento passivo LDMP) no dinamômetro isocinético Biodex Multi-Joint System III Pro, a 2º/s e em dois ângulos-alvo (30º e 60º de flexão do joelho). As variáveis estudadas foram o deslocamento angular médio (LDMP) e o erro absoluto (PPA) em relação a cada ângulo-alvo. A função subjetiva do joelho foi avaliada por meio da Escala de Lysholm. A análise de variância indicou déficit funcional subjetivo no membro envolvido, comparado ao membro contralateral, bem como em relação ao grupo controle, nos dois períodos de teste (p<0,01). Embora não significativo, os resultados indicaram tendência de maior LDMP para o grupo reconstruído (p=0,06). Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos quanto à média de erro absoluto (p>0,05), para qualquer uma das modalidades de PPA, ângulos-alvo ou períodos considerados. O LDMP apresentou forte correlação com o escore funcional do joelho (apenas para o membro envolvido). Nas condições experimentais utilizadas, os indivíduos com lesão do LCA não apresentaram déficits proprioceptivos significativos em relação ao grupo controle, apesar das limitações funcionais verificadas subjetivamente.