Associations of Variation in Retinal Thickness with ARMD Treated with anti-VEGF

Title of Article: Associations of Variation in Retinal Thickness With Visual Acuity and Anatomic Outcomes in Eyes With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Lesions Treated With Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents

What are the key takeaway points from this article?

Treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) commonly involves the use of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors. Knowledge of prognostic factors are helpful for guiding therapies and advising patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate if fluctuations in retinal thickness is associated with visual and anatomical outcomes in those treated with anti-VEGF for nAMD. The study included 1731 participants from 2 randomized control studies. The primary outcome of this analysis was the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and secondary outcomes included fibrosis and geographical atrophy. After 2 years of anti-VEGF therapy, those with greater fluctuation in retinal thickness had worse BCVA and were more likely to develop fibrosis and geographical atrophy in the macular lesion than eyes with less fluctuation. Thus, increasing variation in retinal thickness was associated with worse outcomes and can be a marker for poor prognosis in those with nAMD treated with anti-VEGF.

Publication Date: August 20, 2020

Reference:

Evans RN, Reeves BC, Maguire MG, et al. Associations of Variation in Retinal Thickness With Visual Acuity and Anatomic Outcomes in Eyes With Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Lesions Treated With Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2020;138(10):1043–1051. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.3001

Summary by: Sarah Yeo