Abstract
Purpose:
To assess long-term visual acuity and macular thickness in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for NVAMD.
Methods:
25 eyes of 18 patients with NVAMD treated with anti-VEGF therapy by physicians at Illinois Retina Associates were included in our study. Best corrected snellen visual acuity and macular thickness (Cirrus SD-OCT) were analyzed. Patients with concomitant ocular disease such as glaucoma or diabetes were excluded as were patients who received alternative treatments for AMD (PDT / laser).
Results:
Eyes of patients treated with Anti-VEGF treatments (ranibizumab, aflibercept, or bevacizumab) over a mean period of 5.7 years (range, 553 days to 2959 days) received an average of 26.16 injections (15.92 ranibizumab, 4.52 aflibercept, and 5.72 bivacizumab injections) were analyzed. Average visual acuity recorded on the date of initial injection was 20/64 (logMAR 0.50), ranging from 20/20 to CF. Average visual acuity at the most recent visit was 20/113 (logMAR 0.75), ranging from 20/25 to CF. Initial foveal thickness was 271.1 microns. Most recent foveal thickness was 230.8 microns.
Conclusions:
After an average of over 5 years of anti-VEGF intravitreal treatments, 52% (13/25) of eyes demonstrated visual acuity of 20/50 or better. 28% (7/25) of eyes treated maintained stable visual acuity. In 24% (6/25), visual acuity improved and in 48% the visual acuity declined.