Results of anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular AMD in eyes with different baseline visual acuity in Turkish population-based on real life data-Bosphorus Retina Study Group

BACKGROUND

To investigate the anatomical and visual outcomes of the patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF), according to the baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) based on the multicenter real-life data.

METHODS

Five-hundred-ninety patients who had taken the Pro Re Nata (PRN) treatment regimen with three loading doses and at least one year of follow-up were included. The patients were divided into three groups according to the baseline BCVA: Group 1 (BCVA ≥1.3 Logmar), Group 2 (1.3 Logmar > BCVA ≥0.3 Logmar), and Group 3 (BCVA ≤0.2 Logmar). BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT), and the number of injections and visits were evaluated.

RESULTS

There were 175, 322, and 93 patients in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively. The number of visits and injections in the 1st year was not different between the groups (p = 0.58 and p = 0.08) and was 7.09 and 4.41 (Group 1), 6.59 and 5.58 (Group 2), 6.77 and 4.08 (Group 3). There was a significant difference in CMT between the baseline and 12^th month in Group 1 and Group 2 (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively) but not in Group 3 (p = 0.84). BCVA was significantly better in the 12th month in Group 1 (p<0.001), slightly worse in Group 2 (p = 0.79), and significantly worse in Group 3 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study provides evidence that an inadequate number of injections cannot protect vision. Moreover, it can cause vision loss, especially in the eyes with good vision.