Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the visual outcome and self-reported vision-targeted health status for persons treated with intravitreal ranibizumab for wet, age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: :
Altogether 50 eyes from 50 patients aged 75+-7 years not previously treated and with wet AMD were included in this prospective study.Best corrected visual acuity (VA) was examined using Early Treatment Diabetic Research Study (ETDRS) charts and near vision reading.All patients underwent an ophthalmological examination including fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography (occult cases) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).The Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-25) test was answered before and 37+-7 months after the start of the intravitreal injections.
Results: :
The patients received mean 8+-5 (range 2-22) injections.One month after the third intravitreal injection significant improvement was seen in both visual acuity (53+-14 to 61+-14 ; p=0.001) and near vision (17+-9 to 11+-8; p=0.001).During follow up mean VA decreased from 53+-14 to 44+-24 letters (p 0.011), and near vision decreased from 17+-9 to 20+-11 points (p=0.048). Despite vision impairment, the life qulity test revealed no significant raise in worries concerning visual function (p=0.14), decrease in near activities (p=0.36), ability in reading newspaper (p=0.21), general vision (p=0.512) or menthal health (p=0.615). Significant decreased results were found in questions concerning social functioning in other places than at home (p=0.024) and independency (p=0.010).
Conclusions: :
In this three years follow-up study, patients treated with ranibizumab for wet, age-related macular degeneration detoriated in visual acuity. Despite this, life quality items concerning well-being and functioning in important near activities were not significantly decreased.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • quality of life • quality of life