Abstract
Purpose :
1. To compare the scotopic b-wave in those ocriplasmin treated patients who had a pharmacological VMT release to those who did not
2. To propose a mechanism to account for the data
Methods :
Full-field ERGs were recorded from both eyes in a subset of patients participating in the OASIS study (1) at baseline (BL), Day 7, Day 28 and every 3 months thereafter until Month 24. The ERGs were evaluated by a masked expert. The scotopic b-wave was analyzed in 20 patients who received 0.125 mg of ocriplasmin and did not have a vitrectomy. This group was further sub-divided into those that exhibited VMT release and those that did not. This study compared amplitudes at BL to those at last visit.
Results :
Of the 20 patients, 7 (35%) showed VMT release on OCT at anytime. All 7 had an increase or minimal change in their scotopic b-wave amplitude between BL and last visit, with an average increase of 24% (CI: 1% to 47%). Thirteen (65%) had no VMT release on OCT and most showed a decrease or no change in this potential compared to BL, with an average decrease of 22% (CI: -1% to -44%). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.006 using two tailed t-test).
Conclusions :
Thirty five percent of patients with VMT had BL scotopic ERG amplitudes that increased after VMT release following ocriplasmin administration. Ocriplasmin patients who did not release showed a decrease in their scotopic b-wave from BL to last visit. These data are consistent with a panretinal abnormality that is present at BL in certain patients as a result of mechanical traction extending beyond the macula. VMT release seems to result in improved current flow in photoreceptors.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.