Long-term outcomes in eyes receiving fixed-interval dosing of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents for wet age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To report on long-term visual outcomes in patients receiving continuous fixed-interval dosing of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Single-practice retrospective chart review. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred nine eyes with exudative AMD receiving continuous fixed-interval dosing (every 4-8 weeks) of anti-VEGF therapy (ranibizumab, bevacizumab, or aflibercept) for at least 5 years. Eyes were excluded if they averaged fewer than 6.5 injections per year. METHODS: Snellen visual acuity was recorded at baseline and all subsequent injections. Changes from baseline were calculated at yearly intervals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was mean change in letter score at 5, 6, and 7 years; secondary outcomes included the percentage of patients with 20/40 vision or better at 7 years and the mean change in letter score at each yearly time point based on baseline visual grouping (20/40 or better, 20/50-20/100, 20/200 or worse). RESULTS: Forty-four, 75, and 109 patients with 7, 6, and 5 years, respectively, of continuous treatment were identified. Mean change in letter score at year 5 was +14.0 letters (P = 3.9 × 10(-9)), +12.2 letters at 6 years (P = 1.5 × 10(-7)), and +12.1 letters at 7 years (P = 3.8 × 10(-5)). Driving vision (20/40 or better) was achieved in 43.2% of treated eyes. Subanalysis revealed that the greatest visual gains at 5 and 7 years were seen in those patients with baseline visual acuity worse than 20/200 (+24.5 and +25.5 letters), followed by those with 20/50 to 20/100 vision (+6.7 and +6.9 letters), and finally those with 20/20 to 20/40 (+3.7 and +3.4 letters). Patients received an average of 10.5 injections per year. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous fixed-interval dosing of anti-VEGF therapy in patients with exudative AMD results in favorable long-term preservation out to 7 years, with vision stabilizing or improving in 93.2% of eyes. Additionally, 43.2% of patients maintained driving vision in the treatment eye at 7 years compared with 10.1% at baseline. Our data suggest better outcomes with continuous therapy over published results with sporadic, as-needed therapy.

RaScaL: A Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy, Durability, and Safety of a Single Intervention with Ranibizumab plus Peripheral Laser for Diabetic Macular Edema Associated with Peripheral Nonperfusion on Ultrawide-Field Fluorescein Angiography.

Background and Objectives: To determine the efficacy, durability, and safety of a single treatment with intravitreal ranibizumab plus peripheral scatter laser (RaScaL) in patients with diabetic macular edema associated with peripheral retinal nonperfusion on ultrawide-field fluorescein angiography (UWFA). Study Design: A 6-month, randomized, controlled, prospective phase I/II study of 30 treatment-naïve eyes of 22 patients (8 bilateral patients) with visual impairment secondary to diabetic macular edema associated with peripheral nonperfusion on UWFA. Patients were randomized to receive ranibizumab plus UWFA-guided peripheral scatter laser (n = 15) or triamcinolone acetonide plus macular laser (n = 15). Results: At 6 months, the RaScaL group patients had fewer recurrences warranting retreatment (33% vs. 80%, p < 0.003). Mean change in final visual acuity and central foveal thickness were not statistically significant between groups. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests the efficacy, safety and durability of the RaScaL treatment regimen in patients with diabetic macular edema associated with peripheral nonperfusion on UWFA. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Verteporfin therapy of subfoveal occult choroidal neovascularization in AMD using delayed light application: one-year results of the VALIO Study.

PURPOSE: To compare photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin (Visudyne; Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland) using either standard or delayed light application. DESIGN: Phase II, multicenter, masked, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Sixty patients with occult with no classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) resulting from age-related macular degeneration were assigned randomly (1:1) to verteporfin infusion followed by light application either at 15 minutes (standard light) or 30 minutes (delayed light) after the start of the infusion. The assigned treatment was repeated every three months if fluorescein leakage was detected. RESULTS: At month 12, patients lost a mean of 15.7 letters and 11.4 letters from baseline in the standard and delayed light groups, respectively (P = .38). Twelve (52%) of 23 patients in the standard light group and 11 (42%) of 26 in the delayed light group lost at least 15 letters of visual acuity (P = .57). CONCLUSIONS: There were no statistically significant differences between verteporfin therapy using the delayed light regimen of 30 minutes or the standard light regimen of 15 minutes in eyes with occult with no classic CNV.

Endoscopy for evaluation and treatment of the ciliary body in hypotony.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical utility of the intraocular videoendoscope for evaluation of the ciliary body in eyes with hypotony and as a visualization tool for surgery of the ciliary body. METHOD: A gradient index of refraction rod endoscope was used to evaluate the ciliary body in 14 patients. Videotapes and charts were reviewed retrospectively to correlate the appearance of the ciliary body and to analyze the clinical findings and surgical results. Videoendoscopic surgery to remove fibrous tissue from the ciliary processes was performed in nine eyes. RESULTS: The endoscope produced a clear detailed image of the ciliary body in a state that is undisturbed by scleral depression or other forms of mechanical distortion. In eyes without hypotony the normal ciliary processes are uniformly pigmented with a velvet-like surface at high magnification. White surface changes in the peak and crest of individual ciliary processes (white-caps) were seen in 11 of 14 patients with hypotony. At high magnification the white surface changes had a brush-like texture integral to the ciliary processes. Other findings in hypotony were fibrous covering of the ciliary body in 10 patients, loss of pigment epithelium in 5, traction elongation of the ciliary processes in 8, vascular loops in 4, pigmented sheets in 3, and areas of missing ciliary processes in 1. White caps were present in seven of the nine patients who had surgery for fibrous traction of the ciliary processes and hypotony and three patients with hypotony not due to other endoscopically visible abnormalities of the ciliary processes. Endoscopically visualized dissection of ciliary body in 9 patients resulted in normal or elevated tension immediately postoperatively in 7 (78%). At the most recent visit only three of the patients had normal tension, but for these nine patients the pressures were marginally, significantly (P = 0.08) higher compared to the preoperative pressures. CONCLUSION: The evaluation and management of hypotony is enhanced by the use of intraocular videoendoscopy. Clinical findings of whitecaps and traction elongation of the ciliary processes were associated with ocular hypotony. The endoscope facilitated surgery for dissection and removal of fibrous tissue over the ciliary processes. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathophysiology of ocular hypotony.

Vitrectomy for diabetic traction retinal detachment using the multiport illumination system.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the visual and anatomic results of bimanual vitrectomy surgery with the multiport illumination system (MIS) in eyes with advanced diabetic traction retinal detachment. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-seven consecutive eyes in 62 patients having vitrectomy with the MIS. METHODS: During surgery, the vitreous, the posterior hyaloid membrane, and fibrovascular proliferative tissue were removed by using bimanual dissection made possible by the MIS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Retinal reattachment rate, visual function, and postoperative complications were compared with previously published series of vitrectomy for diabetic traction retinal detachment. RESULTS: With a minimum of 6 months of follow-up, complete retinal reattachment was achieved in 62 eyes (93%), and macular attachment was achieved in all 67 eyes. Vision was stabilized or improved in 51 eyes (72%), and 5/200 vision was achieved in 47 eyes (70%). No unique complications, such as incision-related retinal tears, occurred. CONCLUSION: MIS allows bimanual surgery during vitrectomy for diabetic traction retinal detachment, with good visual and anatomic results.