Fight Retinal Blindness SPAIN. Report 3: clinical outcomes of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors in low vision eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. A national database study.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare visual outcomes for low vision eyes (LVE) (<35 letters LogMAR or <20/200 Snellen) versus non-low vision eyes (NLVE) (>35 letters LogMAR or >20/200 Snellen) at the time of the first injection in a clinical practice setting.

Methods: Subgroup analysis of a multicenter national database of treatment- naïve eyes neovascular age related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with anti-VEGF intravitreal injections divided into LVE and NLVE. Demographics, visual acuity (VA) at baseline and subsequent timepoints (12, 24, and 36 months), number of injections and visits data were collected using a validated web-based tool (Fight Retinal Blindness!).

Results: 3138 eyes were included, 705 LVE and 2433 NLVE. The LVE group had the greatest VA gain (p < 0.001), at 12, 24, and 36 months (+15, +15, and +13 letters respectively). The proportion of patients with VA loss (-5 letters) differed between groups at 12, 24, and 36 and was significantly greater (p < 0.001) in NLVE. The proportion of patients with VA gain (+5 letters) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in LVE in all timeframes. The proportions of LVE that still had VA ≤ 35 letters at 12, 24, and 36 months were 54%, 54%, and 57%. Conversely, 8%, 9%, and 8% of LVE achieved VA ≥ 70 letters at 12, 24, and 36 months. LVE received fewer intravitreal injections than NLVE throughout follow-up (6, 9, 12 vs 7, 11, 15).

Conclusion: Findings of this study support the need for ongoing therapy in patients with initial visual acuity less than 35 letters since sustained visual improvements can be achieved and maintained for the first 3 years of treatment.