Subretinal Fluid Resolution and Visual Acuity in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A HARBOR Post Hoc Analysis

Quantitative Multimodal Imaging Characterization of Intraretinal Cysts versus Degenerative Pseudocysts in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

OBJECTIVE

To differentiate intraretinal fluid (IRF) cysts from degenerative pseudocysts in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by quantitative multimodal imaging.

DESIGN

Observational, cross-sectional.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients affected by macular neovascularization secondary to AMD.

METHODS

All patients were analyzed by OCT, OCT angiography (OCTA), and dense automatic real-time (ART) OCTA. New-onset cysts were considered IRF, whereas those cysts that were found to be persistent for at least 3 months were categorized as degenerative pseudocysts. Intraretinal cysts were automatically segmented to calculate cyst circularity. Peri-cyst space was quantitatively analyzed to assess the presence of perfusion signal and hyperreflective foci (HF).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Best-corrected visual acuity, cyst circularity, peri-cyst perfusion, peri-cyst HF, fibrosis, and outer retinal atrophy.

RESULTS

We analyzed 387 cysts collected from 35 eyes of 35 patients with neovascular AMD (14 men; mean age, 80 ± 5 years). We classified 302 IRF cysts and 85 degenerative pseudocysts. Intraretinal fluid cysts were characterized by significantly higher circularity (0.86; range, 0.81-0.91), perfusion signal in the peri-cyst space, and peri-cyst HF in 89% of cases (all P < 0.05). Degenerative pseudocysts showed significantly lower circularity (0.68; range, 0.64-0.76), no perfusion signal in the peri-cyst space, and peri-cyst HF in only 29% of cases (all P < 0.05). The adopted quantitative metrics significantly correlated with disease duration, number of injections, fibrosis, and outer retinal atrophy.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraretinal fluid cysts can be discriminated from degenerative pseudocysts using a quantitative multimodal imaging approach. These findings are clinically relevant and should be included in future training models for artificial intelligence algorithms to improve the diagnostic power and fluid monitoring in neovascular AMD.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Real-World Data on Faricimab Switching in Treatment-Refractory Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Faricimab is a newly approved bispecific antibody for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Our study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes of faricimab switching in patients with treatment-refractory nAMD; determine parameters that predict these outcomes; and obtain patient subjective experience on this new injection. This is a retrospective case review with clinical and imaging data from a tertiary referral unit (Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, UK), involving patients who were switched to faricimab between 1 January and 1 December 2023. In all, 63 eyes (54 patients) with a mean age of 79.2 ± 7.8 and mean of 41.5 ± 22.4 previous anti-VEGF injections were analysed. With a mean of 4.81 ± 1.16 faricimab injections over 6.98 ± 1.75 months, post-treatment visual acuity was logMAR 0.49 ± 0.36 and central macular thickness (CMT) was 320.3 ± 97.9 µm. After first dose, 39.1% achieved complete dryness and 89.1% had anatomical improvement. Presence of subretinal fluid was a predictor of better functional outcomes (p = 0.001, β = -0.182), while initial CMT predicted better anatomical outcomes (p = 0.001, β = 0.688). Compared to their experiences of previous anti-VEGF injections, 89% of patients reported no more discomfort and 87.0% experienced no more floaters, photopsia, or bubbles post-injection. Faricimab switching has anatomical efficacy but limited functional improvement in treatment-refractory AMD. Patient experiences of faricimab compared to previous injections were overall positive.