Novel Measure Aligns With Vision Loss in Geographic Atrophy

A new index shows stronger correlation with visual acuity than atrophy area, potentially improving tracking of functional decline.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 10:39pm

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Researchers developed a novel outcome measure for geographic atrophy called the Geographic Atrophy Weighted-by-Acuity Index, which showed a stronger correlation with best-corrected visual acuity than the traditional measure of atrophy area. This new index was validated internally and externally, and may offer improved tracking of vision changes in clinical trials and practice.

Why it matters

Geographic atrophy, an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration, can lead to significant vision loss. Current measures of atrophy area do not always align well with visual function, so a new metric that better reflects functional decline could aid in evaluating therapies and managing patient care.

The details

The researchers analyzed data from the AREDS2 trial and the Geographic Atrophy Minocycline Trial, dividing the macula into 60 annuli and calculating atrophy occupancy in each. They then derived the new Geographic Atrophy Weighted-by-Acuity Index using ridge regression, with atrophy occupancy and age as predictors. This index showed stronger correlation with best-corrected visual acuity letter score deficits than atrophy area in both internal and external validation.

  • The study was published online on January 29, 2026.

The players

Jintong Hou

PhD, of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, and the lead author of the study.

AREDS2 trial

A clinical trial used for training and internal validation of the new geographic atrophy measure.

Geographic Atrophy Minocycline Trial

A trial used for external validation of the new geographic atrophy measure.

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What they’re saying

“The novel GA [geographic atrophy] outcome measure could play a complementary role, as a secondary measure, alongside existing measures. Then, meaningful structural measures would be available for therapies that slow GA expansion macula-wide or preferentially near the center.”

— Jintong Hou, PhD, lead author

What’s next

Researchers plan to further evaluate the new Geographic Atrophy Weighted-by-Acuity Index in additional clinical trials and real-world settings to assess its utility for tracking disease progression and evaluating the efficacy of emerging therapies.

The takeaway

This novel geographic atrophy measure that incorporates visual acuity data provides a more accurate reflection of functional vision loss compared to traditional atrophy area, potentially improving the assessment of disease progression and treatment response in clinical practice and research.