Factors associated with achieving various visual acuity outcomes during loading doses of aflibercept 2 mg for treatment naïve exudative age-related macular degeneration: PRECISE Study Report 7.

Purpose: To identify demographic and baseline OCT characteristics that are predictive of VA outcomes after the first and post-loading injections in patients treated with 2 mg aflibercept.

Methods: This study evaluated VA outcomes in 1999 eyes of 1862 patients with nAMD initiated on aflibercept therapy. Demographic and OCT (Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering) features associated with good VA outcome defined as VA ≥ 68 ETDRS letters (Snellen ≥  6/12) and poor VA outcome of <54 ETDRS letters (Snellen < 6/18) or a loss of ≥5 ETDRS letters after first and post-loading injections were analysed using logistic regression via generalised estimating equations.

Results: The mean age was 79.3 (SD 7.8) years, 1126 (60.5%) were females, and predominantly white ethnic background (1772 [95.2%]). The mean presenting VA was 58.0 (SD 14.5) ETDRS letters. After the loading phase, 930/1994 (46.6%) eyes achieved VA ≥ 68 ETDRS letters, and 457 (22.9%) attained VA < 54 ETDRS letters. Increasing age, non-white ethnicity, and baseline VA < 54 letter score is associated with VA < 54 letters. The OCT parameters associated with reduced odds of VA ≥ 68 ETDRS letters and increased odds of VA < 54 ETDRS letters after first and post-loading phase included fovea-involving intraretinal fluid, all types of macular neovascularisation (MNV) versus type 1 MNV, fovea-involving MNV (vs. non-foveal MNV), subfoveal MNV complex, increased central subfield thickness, foveal presence of subretinal hyper-reflective material, atrophy, fibrosis, ungradable or ellipsoid zone and/or external limiting membrane loss.

Conclusion: This study could provide individual-level visual prognosis about their post-loading VA based on demography, VA and OCT characteristics at presentation.