PERIPAPILLARY RETINAL NERVE FIBER THICKNESS CHANGES AFTER VITRECTOMY FOR EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE IN EYES WITH AND WITHOUT VITREOUS DETACHMENT.

PURPOSE: To compare the changes in postoperative peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (p-RNFL) thickness after vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane in eyes with preexisting posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and eyes with surgically induced PVD. METHODS: This study included consecutive patients who underwent 25-gauge vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane. Eyes were divided, according to intraoperative PVD status, into a preexisting PVD group and surgically induced PVD group. Best-corrected visual acuity, p-RNFL thickness, and central retinal thickness were performed before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty eyes of 120 patients were enrolled: 64 eyes in the preexisting PVD group and 56 eyes in the surgically induced PVD group. In the preexisting PVD group at 6 months, the mean global p-RNFL thickness did not change, whereas it was reduced in the temporal sector (P = 0.034). In the surgically induced PVD group at 6 months, significant decreases were observed in global p-RNFL thickness (P = 0.027), temporal (P = 0.021), temporal inferior (P = 0.030), and nasal inferior sectors (P = 0.010). At 6 months, the two groups differed significantly in temporal (P < 0.001) and temporal inferior sectors (P = 0.004). The preoperative mean best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly at 6 months in both groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative p-RNFL thickness after vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane tended to decrease in the temporal sector in all eyes and in the temporal inferior and nasal inferior sectors in eyes with surgically induced PVD.

Anti vascular endothelial growth factor sequential therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: is this the new deal?

OBJECTIVE: To review clinical data on the sequential use of the non-selective vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors (ranibizumab and bevacizumab) and the selective VEGF inhibitor (pegaptanib) in the treatment of neovascular age related macular degeneration (n-AMD). METHODS: This is a selective review of the literature based on a PubMed search using the terms 'age-related macular degeneration', 'selective anti-VEGF', 'non-selective anti-VEGF' and 'combination therapy' from 2000 to date in the English language. Studies on the management of n-AMD reporting adherence, patient-reported outcomes, costs, side effects, resource use and cost effectiveness were also included. RESULTS: The trial data suggest that pan-VEGF inhibition provides improved treatment outcomes in patients with n-AMD with selective anti-VEGF agents offering better tolerability on long-term treatment. A pilot trial and a large-scale, multicentre study confirmed the long-term efficacy of a selective VEGF inhibitor when used as maintenance therapy. Importantly, there is evidence that selective VEGF inhibition also reduces the risks associated with pan-VEGF blockade in patients with n-AMD. DISCUSSION: Anti-VEGF agents play a principal role in the management of n-AMD. The most potent are the pan-VEGF agents although there is some discussion regarding their long-term tolerability. The sequential use of non-selective VEGF inhibitors as booster therapy with a selective VEGF inhibitor as maintenance therapy seems to offer a promising safety/efficacy profile, as well as improved cost/effectiveness.