European Journal of Ophthalmology | 2019
Real-life anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema in an Italian tertiary referral hospital
Abstract
Purpose: To study the real-life outcomes of intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment in patients affected by age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema in an Italian tertiary referral hospital over a 2-year follow-up. Methods: Patients with confirmed diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration or diabetic macular edema and 2\u2009years of follow-up were retrospectively analyzed. They underwent a loading dose of three monthly anti–vascular endothelial growth factor injections, with re-treatment performed following a “pro-re-nata” regimen. Best-corrected visual acuity and central retinal thickness were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: In total, 167 diabetic macular edema eyes and 108 age-related macular degeneration eyes were included. Mean age was 63.4\u2009±\u200911.8\u2009years for diabetic macular edema and 75.6\u2009±\u20098.4\u2009years for age-related macular degeneration. For diabetic macular edema patients, mean number of injections was 5.0\u2009±\u20091.7 at 1\u2009year and 2.8\u2009±\u20091.8 at 2\u2009years. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 60 Early Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters to 66.7 letters at 1\u2009year, and to 70 letters at 2\u2009years (p\u2009<\u20090.001). Mean central retinal thickness decreased from 459\u2009±\u2009148\u2009µm to 327\u2009±\u2009163\u2009µm and 261\u2009±\u200989\u2009µm, respectively, at the first and the second year (p\u2009<\u20090.001).With respect to age-related macular degeneration patients, mean number of injections was 5.3\u2009±\u20092.2 at 1\u2009year and 3.3\u2009±\u20091.5 at 2\u2009years. Mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 63 Early Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters to 68 letters at 1\u2009year and to 70 letters at 2\u2009years (p\u2009<\u20090.001). Mean central retinal thickness was 411\u2009±\u2009146\u2009µm, decreasing to 271\u2009±\u200993\u2009µm at 1\u2009year and 260\u2009±\u200968\u2009µm at 2\u2009years (p\u2009<\u20090.001). Conclusions: Our study described the 2-year real-life outcome of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor treatment of diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration.