Abstract
Purpose: :
to evaluate variations in choroidal thickness during anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular AMD
Methods: :
We retrospectively measured choroidal thickness (CT) in all eyes treated in the last six months with intravitreal ranibizumab for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to AMD. CT was calculated with SD-OCT (Spectralis, Heidelberg) by two independent observers from the outer border of RPE line to the iperreflective line behind the large vessel layer of the choroid. We compared CT before the first injection (T0) with CT one month after the third monthly injection (T1). Type of CNV and BCVA (ETDRS chart) were also registered.
Results: :
We analyzed 33 consecutive eyes of 33 patients (mean age 76 yo). At T0 mean BCVA was 32 letters and the range of the refractive error was ± 2.3 SE. Twentyfour eyes had an occult CNV, 3 eyes had a classic CNV and 6 eyes had a minimally classic CNV. After four months of therapy, the mean foveal CT decreased from 187µm (± 71) to 166 µm (±67), and this difference resulted highly statistically significant (p <0.0001). CT remained stable in only 4 eyes, while in 29 eyes it decreased from 9 to 72 µm (mean 21 µm).
Conclusions: :
Anti-VEGF therapy seems to reduce choroidal thickness in neovascular AMD. Further studies with longer follow-up and higher number of eyes are necessary to confirm these data.
Keywords: choroid • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • age-related macular degeneration