We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Change of Refraction After Pharmacologic Resolution of Macular Edema Caused by Active Wet AMD.
- Authors
D., Stronska; R., Kaczmarek
- Abstract
Introduction/Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in the developed world. The wet form requires anti-VEGF treatment and adequate spectacle or contact lens correction. Many ophthalmologists believe that prescribing visual aids should be postponed until the macular edema is resolved. The reason for this is myopic shift caused by flattening of the macula. It is known that some diseases involving macular edema result in hyperopic shift, like central serous retinopathy. The aim of this study is to determine whether drop of central retinal thickness caused by anti-VEGF therapy in AMD is associated with statistically significant change of spherical refraction equivalent. Methods: Patients treated with aflibercept (Eylea) injections for wet AMD according to a Treatment Programme Protocol were followed up and treated at monthly or bimonthly intervals. At the time of each visit the central retinal thickness (CRT) was assessed using SD OCT Cirrus 500 (Carl Zeiss). Spherical equivalent (SE) was determined using autorefractometer Topcon KR8800. Untreated eyes were used as controls but only when there was no active AMD in the fellow eye. Ophthalmologists' attitude towards choosing the best moment for prescribing visual aids was assessed after analysing the results of an appropriate questionnaire. Results: Forty two eyes of thirty two patients received intravitreal aflibercept. Mean CRT at baseline was 362 µm, 273 µm after 4 injections and then remained stable. Mean observation period was 6 months (2-15). We observed no statistically significant change in SE throughout the whole study. Conclusions: Appropriate correction can be prescribed to patients treated for macular edema caused by wet AMD any time during ongoing anti-VEGF treatment - even during active phase. The results of this study show that flattening of the central retina is not associated with statistically significant SE change and therefore there is no real risk of myopic shift.
- Subjects
AGE factors in retinal degeneration; VISUAL accommodation; EDEMA; BLINDNESS; VASCULAR endothelial growth factors; CONTACT lenses; THERAPEUTICS
- Publication
Ophthalmic Research, 2017, Vol 58, p10
- ISSN
0030-3747
- Publication type
Article