Dataset Information

Principal Cause of Poor Visual Acuity after Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 Report Number 23.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To analyze the principal cause for poor vision in eyes with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/200 or worse 2 years after neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Design

Prospective cohort study of participants enrolled in a clinical trial of oral supplements.

Participants

Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) participants whose eyes began anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for incident nAMD and had data available at 2 years.

Methods

Participants underwent refracted BCVA testing, ophthalmoscopic examination, and fundus photography at baseline and annual visits. Self-reports of anti-VEGF injections were collected.

Main outcome measures

Principal cause of BCVA of 20/200 or worse at 2 years, detected on fundus photography grading.

Results

Of the 594 eligible eyes, the number with BCVA of 20/200 or worse at 2 years was 56 (9.4%). Mean BCVA was 14.9 letters (standard deviation [SD], 12.3 letters; Snellen equivalent, 20/500), versus 70.1 letters (SD, 12.8 letters; Snellen equivalent, 20/40) in the other group. Of the 55 eyes with fundus photography available at 2 years, 33 (60.0%) had central macular atrophy and 22 (40.0%) had central subretinal fibrosis assessed as the principal cause for poor vision. The group with poor BCVA had a higher proportion of non-White participants (8.9% vs. 1.7%; P = 0.006), lower BCVA 2 years earlier (mean, 38.0 letters [SD, 26.7 letters; Snellen equivalent, 20/160] vs. 71.8 letters (SD, 11.9 letters; Snellen equivalent, 20/40]; P < 0.0001), higher proportion with macular atrophy 2 years earlier (26.8% vs. 12.3%; P = 0.003), higher proportion with macular hemorrhage (25.5% vs. 13.2%; P = 0.014), and fewer anti-VEGF injections (7.6 vs. 10.2; P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Visual acuity data and fundus photography were obtained in a clinical trial environment, but were related to anti-VEGF therapy given in routine clinical practice. At 2 years after starting anti-VEGF therapy, almost 1 in 10 eyes showed BCVA at the level of legal blindness. From fundus photography grading, the cause of poor vision appeared to be macular atrophy in 60% and subretinal fibrosis in 40%. These data may be useful in understanding the long-term limits to good vision in nAMD.

SUBMITTER: Okeagu CU

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7796863 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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