Abstract
Purpose :
To examine the burden patients experience in attending their ophthalmic appointments while being treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents. We seek to provide insight into the specific difficulties patients encounter in driving themselves or in finding another method of transportation to attend appointments.
Methods :
One hundred subjects who received at least 6 intravitreal injections for their ocular conditions in the last 12 months were enrolled. During their visit, we assessed BCVA before dilation and after patients received IVT. Within 2 weeks, we contacted patients by phone and collected responses to a 37-point questionnaire assessing how much patients relied on themselves or others to attend their visits, and how much of an impact arranging appointment visits has on them and their families.
Results :
32% of patients reported driving to their own appointments. Of those who do not drive to their appointments, 87% (59/68) have friends or relatives bring them. 45% reported traveling at least 20 minutes each way to get to appointments. Of the 13% of patients who work, 39% (5/13) usually have to miss work to attend their appointments. 17% of subjects had to reschedule a doctor’s appointment due to difficulties with transportation. Binocular BCVA in patients treated OU declined 19 letters on average after IVT (p<0.001), while binocular BCVA in patients treated in one eye declined 7.8 letters (p<0.001). Among patients who drive to their appointments, vision in the treated eye declined 19 letters (p<0.001) and binocular BCVA declined 6.5 letters (p<0.001). Prior to being seen, one patient’s binocular vision was less than 20/200; following treatment, 10 additional subjects fell below 20/200 (p=0.003). In the treated eye, 65% and 34% of subjects presented with vision less than 20/40 and 20/63, respectively; this increased to 96% (p<0.001) and 75% (p<0.001), respectively, following treatment.
Conclusions :
In addition to providing descriptive information on how patients arrange transportation to their appointments, our results indicate that treatment may impact vision-related activities such as driving. The results also speak to the need for developing longer-lasting treatments that reduce the frequency of patients’ appointments, thereby reducing their own burden and improve the ability to comply with the most effective treatment regimen.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.