Baseline Characteristics of the Fellow Eye in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Post Hoc Analysis of the VIEW Studies

Abstract

Purpose: The aim was to describe baseline characteristics of the fellow eye of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: A pooled, post hoc analysis of patients with nAMD enrolled in the VIEW studies was carried out. The VIEW studies compared intravitreal aflibercept (monthly or every 2 months after 3 monthly injections) with monthly ranibizumab. Baseline choroidal neovascularization (CNV) status of fellow eyes and baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and lens status of all eyes were evaluated. Additional analyses evaluated the presence of drusen and pigment in fellow eyes.

Results: When comparing both eyes, baseline BCVA was worse in 23.8% of fellow eyes and in 75.2% of study eyes. Lens status of fellow eyes and study eyes was similar. Baseline visual acuity of the study eye and that of the fellow eye were not correlated. Most fellow eyes had signs of early AMD, with 34.6% (n = 843) of fellow eyes having evidence of scarring.

Conclusions: In patients in the VIEW studies, most fellow eyes had evidence of AMD, highlighting the importance of examining both eyes, with close follow-up thereafter, in order to detect and treat CNV earlier as needed.