Abstract
Purpose :
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a vision-threatening retinal disease that severely impacts quality of life. Predicting the progression of non-exudative AMD to exudative AMD (eAMD) early will help patients preserve their vision. We aim to determine whether choroidal biomarkers can help identify patients who may convert to eAMD.
Methods :
This retrospective case series included adult patients with clinically stable non-exudative AMD or eAMD with one year of data before diagnosis. Clinical, demographic, and OCT data were collected. OCT parameters were subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), central macular thickness (CMT), Haller layer thickness (HVT), inner choroidal thickness (ICT), pigment epithelial detachment (PED), and double-layer sign (DLS). Measurements were done by one trained observer and are reported in μm.
Results :
The non-conversion (NC) group comprised 37 eyes of 37 patients. The eAMD group had 79 eyes of 75 patients. Mean age was 79.4±9.8 years with 47 males (42.0%) and 65 females (58.0%). 54 eyes were right (46.6%) and 62 left (53.4%). Baseline SFCT was significantly lower in the eAMD conversion group compared to the NC group (169.0±63.2 vs. 218.0±97.8, p=0.01). Baseline HVT and ICT, while not statistically significant, were also lower in eyes that converted to eAMD in a year (105.2±40.6 vs. 121.0± 56.6, p=0.17 and 61.9±35.5 vs. 77.5±41.7, p=0.09). HVT was decreased at all time points in the eAMD group vs NC. The ICT was reduced in eAMD at each time point but at conversion. Of eight eyes that exhibited DLS at baseline, all were in the eAMD group. There were ten PEDs in the NC group and 19 in the eAMD group (p=0.64). Mean PED height and width were greater in the eAMD group (p=0.21 and 0.88, respectively)
Conclusions :
Lower SFCT at baseline may signal conversion to eAMD within 12 months. Decreased baseline HVT and ICT and quarterly increase in CMT, although not significant, may mark patients for close observation.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.