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. 2023 Jun 26;16(7):927.
doi: 10.3390/ph16070927.

Visual Outcomes of Anti-VEGF Treatment on Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Real-World Population-Based Cohort Study

Ida Korva-Gurung  1 , Anna-Maria Kubin  1   2 , Pasi Ohtonen  3   4 , Nina Hautala  1   2
Affiliations

Visual Outcomes of Anti-VEGF Treatment on Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Real-World Population-Based Cohort Study

Ida Korva-Gurung et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). .

Abstract

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) leads to visual impairment if not treated promptly. Intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs have revolutionized nAMD treatment in the past two decades. We evaluated the visual outcomes of anti-VEGF treatment in nAMD. A real-life population-based cohort study. The data included parameters for age, sex, age at diagnosis, laterality, chronicity, symptoms, visual outcomes, lens status, and history of intravitreal injections. A total of 1088 eyes (827 patients) with nAMD were included. Visual acuity was stable or improved in 984 eyes (90%) after an average of 36 ± 25 months of follow-up. Bevacizumab was the first-line drug in 1083 (99.5%) eyes. Vision improved ≥15 ETDRS letters in 377 (35%), >5 ETDRS letters in 309 (28%), and was stable (±5 ETDRS letters) in 298 (27%) eyes after anti-VEGF treatment. The loss of 5 ≤ 15 ETDRS letters in 44 (4%) eyes and ≥15 ETDRS letters in 60 (6%) eyes was noted. At the diagnosis of nAMD, 110 out of 827 patients (13%) fulfilled the criteria for visual impairment, whereas 179 patients (22%) were visually impaired after the follow-up. Improvement or stabilization in vision was noted in 90% of the anti-VEGF-treated eyes with nAMD. In addition, anti-VEGF agents are crucial in diminishing nAMD-related visual impairment.

Keywords: anti-VEGF; neovascular age-related macular degeneration; population-based cohort; visual impairment; visual outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Visual outcomes of intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for nAMD.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Impact of cataract surgery or YAG capsulotomy on visual acuity in eyes with nAMD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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