Spatial visual contrast sensitivity in liver transplanted Portuguese familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (ATTR V30M) patients

Abstract

Liver transplanted patients with familial amyloidosis (FAP) patients develop earlier presbyopia due to the deposition of amyloid on the anterior capsule of the lens. Despite normal visual acuity of 20/20 Snellen chart, some patients reported complaints of impaired vision. The aim of this study is to investigate the visual spatial contrast sensitivity in these patients. This is a retrospective, nonrandomized study. Spatial contrast sensitivity was performed in both eyes of 25 FAP patients with best correct visual acuity of 20/20 Snellen chart. In each patient, one eye had visible opacification of anterior capsule of the lens. FAP patients had poorer visual contrast sensitivity than normal even in absence of visible opacification of the anterior capsule of the lens. Comparing eyes with visible opacification of anterior capsule of the lens with eyes without visible opacification of the anterior capsule of the lens, a worse visual sensitivity was observed at all frequencies tested. This occurred with similar lacrimal function in both groups. The eyes of FAP patients have decreased spatial contrast sensitivity which is worse in presence of visible opacification of the anterior capsule of the lens. This could explain the visual complaints in presence of normal visual acuity by Snellen chart.

Keywords::

• Amyloid
• contrast sensitivity
• FAP-I
• familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy
• liver transplantation
• transthyretin
• TTR V30M

Declaration of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.