Abstract
Purpose:
Copaxone (glatiramer acetate) has been previously shown to reduce drusen on SLO-OCT imaging in patients with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study compares retinal sensitivity using microperimetry in patients with dry AMD being treated with Copaxone versus placebo.
Methods:
Eleven patients with dry AMD were enrolled in the study, 5 patients received weekly subcutaneous Copaxone injections, and 6 patients received sham treatment for a 12 week period. Patients were imaged with scanning laser ophthalmoscope microperimetry and optical coherence tomography (OPKO Health, Miami, FL). Microperimetry and macular topography was obtained at baseline and 6 weeks.
Results:
At 6-week follow-up, 9 (out of 10) eyes of patients treated with Copaxone demonstrated a mean 46.9% improvement in retinal sensitivity. Whereas 8 (out of 12) eyes of patients treated with placebo had a mean 6.2% decrease in light sensitivity. Effect of treatment was compared with effect of placebo using the one-tailed, independent 2-sample t-test, yielding a P=.071.
Conclusions:
Patients with dry AMD being treated with Copaxone showed improvement of retinal sensitivity on Microperimetry at the 6 week follow-up. Patients receiving placebo showed stable or worse microperimetry over the course of 6 weeks.
Keywords: 412 age-related macular degeneration •
758 visual fields •
504 drusen