scholarly journals Influence of vitrectomyon the progressionof wet age related macular degeneration

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
Yuriy Sergeyevich Astakhov ◽  
Gassan Basharovich Shaar ◽  
Nikita Yur’yevich Dal’

Purpose. To study the effects of vitrectomy on the course of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Materials and methods. 99 patients (99 eyes) with wet AMD associated with vitreo-macular adhesion or posterior hyaloid traction were included in the study. During the first 6 months, all patients received anti-VEGF treatment according to a PRN regimen. Then, they were divided into two groups: in 45 patients vitrectomy was performed and 54 patients did not receive surgical treatment. The follow-up period duration was one year. Results. At the beginning of the study, visual acuity was 0.27 ± 0.17 in the control group, and 0.17 ± 0.15 in the treatment group. Most prominent differences in visual acuity between the two groups were observed during the first 6 months (visual acuity in the treatment group before surgery was 0.12 ± 0.1) (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001), at the same time during the following 6 follow-up months, this difference decreased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). 1 year from the study start, visual acuity in the control group was 0.24 ± 0.17, and 0.17 ± 0.13 in the treatment one. Conclusions. Vitrectomy surgery in patients with wet AMD in association with vitreo-macular adhesion or posterior hyaloid traction does not exacerbate the disease course, stabilizes visual functions and improves the quality of life.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ricardo P. Casaroli-Marano ◽  
Carolina Bernal-Morales ◽  
Lillian Chamorro-López ◽  
Marina Dotti-Boada ◽  
Juan P. Figueroa-Vercellino ◽  
...  

The current treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) generates an excessive care pressure in the public health system. The search for a satisfactory treatment regimen, whose anatomical and functional stability may be achieved, is a challenge and a goal to be reached. We analyzed the outcomes in a patient cohort under fixed regimen treatment with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA). A retrospective study, with at least 1-year follow-up, in consecutive treated unselected naïve patients was carried out. Standard protocol was performed and evaluated at baseline, month 4 (after loading dose, LD), and month 12 (after fixed bimonthly regimen). One hundred six patients (123 eyes) aged 80.3 ± 7.7 years were included, receiving 6.8 ± 0.7 IVA. Visual acuity gain after LD was 5.5 ± 12.0 letters ( p < 0.0001 ). At month 12, 23 eyes (18.7%) gained ≥15 letters and 58 (47.1%) had best-corrected visual acuity ≥20/40 (70 letters). The improvement in visual acuity was lower in patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (+4.9 ± 18.1 letters; p = 0.2544) and somewhat higher in patients with retinal angiomatous proliferation (+5.4 ± 12.3 letters; p = 0.0373 ). Dry macula was present in only 9.8% of cohort at baseline vs. 69.7% at month 12 ( p < 0.0001 ). Atrophy was the most observed complication and related to the elderly patients. The average of follow-up visits was 3 ± 0.5. Functional and anatomical improvement were observed with IVA in a fixed bimonthly regimen treatment after LD, with results maintained up to one year with a good compliance. The fixed bimonthly regimen optimized patient management and logistic issues.


Author(s):  
George W. Rozakis ◽  
Brian A. Bakke

The objective of the Hormones, Oxidative stress, Methylation, Inflammation and Gene expression (HOMING) trial was to assess the efficacy of personalized bio identical hormone, dietary supplement and nutritional care plans on dry and wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) outcomes.  We evaluated 220 Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) patients that followed a personalized clinical care plan for up to 9 months.   The care plans consisted of bio identical hormones, dietary supplements and nutrition recommendations with the objective to improve lab and clinical measurements linked to oxidative stress, inflammation and gene expression.  Serum concentrations of CRP, HbA1c and homocysteine responded favorably to the HOMING protocol with full program compliance. Sixty percent (42/70) of wet AMD patients reported improvement in visual acuity and/or a reduction in the frequency of anti-VEGF injections during the study period.  Forty eight percent (44/92) of dry AMD patients reported improvement in visual acuity during the study period.  Nine percent (4/45) patients reported improvement in visual acuity in the dry AMD control group and no (0/13) wet AMD patients in the control group reported improvement.  Six percent (4/70) of wet AMD patients reported that their vision declined and/or that their F frequency increased during the study period.  Five percent (4/92) of dry AMD patients reported that their vision was worse.  Keywords:  Bio identical Hormones, Oxidative stress, Methylation, Inflammation, Gene Expression, Nutrition and AMD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Fenghua Wang ◽  
Yuanzhi Yuan ◽  
Ling Wang ◽  
Xiaofeng Ye ◽  
Jingke Zhao ◽  
...  

Purpose. To compare the functional and anatomical outcomes of one dose and three loading doses followed by the pro re nata (PRN) regimen in Chinese neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) (including polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV)) patients. Methods. In this multicenter, prospective, open-label, controlled, 12-month study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02810808), patients were randomized (1 : 1) to 1 dose + PRN (PRN group) or 3 loading doses + PRN (LD group) using intravitreal ranibizumab treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were evaluated. The main outcome was the change in BCVA. The noninferiority limit was 5 letters. Results. Forty-five patients in the PRN group and 49 patients in the LD group finished 12-month follow-up. Each group included 4 PCV patients. The mean change in BCVA from baseline was 7.8 letters in the PRN group, compared with 10.9 letters in the LD group (P=0.344). There were no significant differences between two groups in the mean change of CRT (−159.3 μm vs. −120.5 μm) at month 12. The mean number of injections during the 12-month follow-up was 6.0 in the PRN group and 6.8 in the LD group. The proportion of patients who gained an improvement in visual acuity by 15 or more letters was 28.9% in the PRN group and 44.9% in the LD group (P=0.066). Conclusion. One dose + PRN showed noninferior visual gains than 3 loading doses + PRN regimen using ranibizumab in Chinese nvAMD and PCV patients. Number of injections in the PRN group was similar as that in the LD group but remained a potential risk of vision instability during one-year follow-up using OCT-guided retreatment criteria. This trial is registered with NCT02810808.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Yuriy Sergeyevich Astakhov ◽  
Nikita Yur’yevich Dal’ ◽  
Natal’ya Viktorovna Chistyakova

Many patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) also have a cataract in the same eye. Because there is a theoretical risk of progression of the degenerative processes in the macular area after surgical lens removal, this raises some ethical, clinical and economical questions for ophthalmologists. The purpose of the study was to compare the course of wet AMD in eyes with incipient cataract and the course in eyes after surgical cataract removal. Materials and methods: 135 eyes with wet AMD, 48 eyes - treated group - were subjects to phacoemulsification during the study, 87 eyes - control group - with incipient cataract without indications for surgery. Regular visits every 1.5 months during 2 years of follow-up with visual acuity testing, central retinal thickness analysis by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Anti-VEGF injections were performed according to a PRN regimen. Results: there was no statistically significant difference in visual acuity, central retinal thickness, intravitreal injection frequency between both groups during the study period. Conclusions: No influence of phacoemulsification on the wet AMD course was found.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Arrigo ◽  
Emanuela Aragona ◽  
Ottavia Battaglia ◽  
Andrea Saladino ◽  
Alessia Amato ◽  
...  

AbstractOuter retinal tubulations (ORT) are a relatively new finding characterizing outer retinal atrophy. The main aim of the present study was to describe ORT development in advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to assess its relationship with disease’s severity. Patients with advanced AMD characterized either by macular neovascularization or geographic atrophy, showing signs of outer retinal disruption or retinal pigment epithelium atrophy on structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) at the inclusion examination were prospectively recruited. All the patients underwent complete ophthalmologic evaluation, structural OCT scans and fundus autofluorescence imaging. The planned follow-up was of 3-years. Main outcome measures were ORT prevalence, mechanism of ORT formation, mean time needed for complete ORT formation, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), definitely decreased autofluorescence (DDAF) area, questionably decreased autofluorescence (QDAF) area, retinal layer thickness, foveal sparing, number of intravitreal injections. We also assessed the possible role of external limiting membrane (ELM) and Müller cells in ORT pathogenesis. Seventy eyes (70 patients) were included; 43 showed dry AMD evolving to geographic atrophy, while 27 displayed the features of wet AMD. Baseline BCVA was 0.5 ± 0.5 LogMAR, decreasing to 0.9 ± 0.5 LogMAR at the 3-year follow-up (p < 0.01). We detected completely formed ORT in 26/70 eyes (37%), subdivided as follows: 20 eyes (77%) wet AMD and 6 eyes (23%) dry AMD (p < 0.01). ORT took 18 ± 8 months (range 3–35 months) to develop fully. We described the steps leading to ORT development, characterized by progressive involvement of, and damage to the photoreceptors, the ELM and the RPE. Eyes displaying ORT were associated with a smaller QDAF area, less retinal layers damage and lower rate of foveal sparing than eyes free of ORT (p < 0.01). We also described pigment accumulations simulating ORT, which were detected in 16/70 eyes (23%), associated with a greater loss of foveal sparing, increased DDAF area and smaller QDAF area at the 3-year follow-up (p < 0.01). In conclusion, this study provided a description of the steps leading to ORT development in AMD. ELM and Müller cells showed a role in ORT pathogenesis. Furthermore, we described a subtype of pigment hypertrophy mimicking ORT, evaluating its clinical utility.


1999 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
John Newnham

This paper aims to provide an overview of age related macular degeneration (ARMD) and its radiotherapy management.ARMD is already the leading cause of adult blindness in the western world. The neovascular form of ARMD is responsible for some 85% of blindness caused by ARMD as a whole. Its aetiology is unknown. The natural course of the disease is rapid progression from onset to disciform scarring and accompanying loss of visual acuity. Laser photocoagulation is only suitable for 10% of patients with neovascular ARMD. Initial studies using low dose fractionated external beam radiotherapy have demonstrated stable visual acuity over the range of 40–93% at short term follow-up. Only transient acute side effects have been observed. No radiation-induced retinopathy or vasculopathy have been observed. Common radiotherapy macula techniques are reviewed, field sizes examined and criteria for a simple macula technique proposed. A subset of patients with rapidly progressing neovascular ARMD may be candidates for rapid treatment starts. Although follow up times have been short, radiotherapy is a promising option for those patients facing imminent blindness due to rapidly progressive neovascular ARMD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Studnička ◽  
Eva Rencová ◽  
Milan Bláha ◽  
Pavel Rozsíval ◽  
Miriam Lánská ◽  
...  

Purpose. Determining long-term effects of rheohaemapheresis on the dry form of age-related macular degeneration.Methods. This study evaluates 19 patients, average age of 67.6 years, treated with rheohaemapheresis and 18 patients, average age of 72.8 years, comprising the control group. Minimum follow up period was 3.5 years. Each treated patient received a series of 8 sessions of rheohaemapheresis of 1.5 plasma volumes within 10 weeks. We measured the drusenoid pigment epithelium detachment (DPED), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), electroretinography (ERG), and rheological parameters.Results. In the treatment group, the baseline BCVA was 0.74 (0.36–1.0) 95% CI and BCVA after 3.5 years was 0.79 (0.41–1.0) 95% CI (P=0.726). In the control group, the baseline BCVA was 0.71 (0.15–1.0) 95% CI and BCVA after 3.5 years decreased to 0.7 (0.32–0.87) 95% CI (P=0.031). Baseline DPED was 6.78 ± 3.79 mm2; after 3.5 years, it decreased to 4.13 ± 3.84 mm2(P<0.001). In the control group, the baseline DPED was 4.09 ± 3.48 mm2; after 3.5 years, it increased to 6.69 ± 4.2 mm2(P=0.001). We noted increasing levels of positive wave peaking at 50 milliseconds (P50) after treatment (P=0.022) and a stable amplitude of photopic responses of treated patients.Conclusion. Over the long term, rheohaemapheresis reduced the DPED, improved the function of photoreceptors, and prevented the decline of BCVA.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Rencová ◽  
Milan Bláha ◽  
Jan Studnička ◽  
Vladimír Bláha ◽  
Miriam Lánská ◽  
...  

Aim. To evaluate the long-term effect of rheohemapheresis (RHF) treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on photoreceptor IS/OS junction status.Methods. In our study, we followed 24 patients with dry AMD and drusenoid retinal pigment epithelium detachment (DPED) for a period of more than 2.5 years. Twelve patients (22 eyes) were treated by RHF and 12 controls (18 eyes) were randomized. The treated group underwent 8 RHF standardized procedures. We evaluated best-corrected visual acuity, IS/OS junction status (SD OCT), and macular function (multifocal electroretinography) at baseline and at 2.5-year follow-up.Results. RHF caused a decrease of whole-blood viscosity/plasma viscosity at about 15/12%. BCVA of treated patients increased insignificantlyP=0.187from median 74.0 letters (56.2 to 81.3 letters) to median 79.0 letters (57.3 to 83.4 letters), but it decreased significantly from 74.0 letters (25.2 to 82.6 letters) to 72.5 letters (23.4 to 83.1 letters) in the control groupP=0.041. The mfERG responses in the region of eccentricity between 1.8° and 7° were significantly higher in treated patientsP=0.04.Conclusions. RHF contributed to sparing of photoreceptor IS/OS junction integrity in the fovea, which is assumed to be a predictive factor for preservation of visual acuity.


2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 994-996
Author(s):  
F R Saifullina ◽  
R Z Sharafieva ◽  
V I Pogorel’tsev ◽  
F M Fayzrahmanova ◽  
E A Abdulaeva

Aim. To assess the antioxidant capacity in patients with the «dry» form of age-related macular degeneration before and after combined treatment with polarized polychromatic non-coherent light and dynamic electromyostimulation. Methods. Two groups of patients with the «dry» form of age-related macular degeneration were examined. 40 patients (80 eyes) from the main group were treated using combined treatment and 39 patients (78 eyes) in the group of control who were treated conventionally. The integral blood antioxidant capacity was measured by galvanometry. Results. Blood antioxidant capacity in healthy subjects is 26.0 kC/l. In patients of the main group blood antioxidant capacity before the treatment was equal to 22.81±0.27 kC/l, compared to 22.17±0.20 kC/l in control group (total mean value 22.49±0.27 kC/l). There was a relevant elevation of the blood antioxidant capacity at the late stages after the treatment - up to 12 months, compared to only 2 months in the control group. Visual acuity in patients of the main group before the treatment was 0.87±0.02, after the treatment was finished - 0.96±0,01 (p 0.001), 2 months after the treatment - 0.95±0.01 (p 0.001), 6 months after the treatment - 0.96±0.01 (p 0.001), 12 months after the treatment - 0.95±0.01 (p 0.001). Visual acuity in patients of the control group before the treatment was 0.91±0.02, after the treatment was finished - 0.95±0.02 (p 0.05), 2 months after the treatment - 0.94±0.02 (p 0.05), 6 months after the treatment - 0.92±0.02 (p 0.05). 12 months after the treatment the visual acuity deteriorated compared to the treatment start and was measured as 0.89±0.02. Conclusion. There is a decrease of blood antioxidant capacity (22.49±0.27 kC/l) in patients with the «dry» form of age-related macular degeneration; a relevant increase of blood antioxidant capacity and visual acuity can be observed up to 12 months after the treatment with polarized polychromatic non-coherent light and dynamic electromyostimulation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 1218-1226
Author(s):  
Gon Soo Choe ◽  
Jong Woo Kim ◽  
Chul Gu Kim ◽  
Jae Hui Kim

Purpose: To investigate the limited response to aflibercept after switching to aflibercept in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This retrospective study included 70 eyes with neovascular AMD that were initially treated with ranibizumab and then switched to aflibercept. The incidence and timing of the limited response to aflibercept were identified and visual outcome was compared between eyes with and without limited response. In addition, factors predictive of limited response were analyzed. Results: A limited response to aflibercept was noted in approximately 1/5 of the patients who underwent switching to aflibercept in neovascular AMD. Switching to aflibercept was performed at a mean of 16.2 ± 12.7 months after diagnosis. During the mean 34.7 months of follow-up after switching, limited response was noted in 15 eyes (21.4%) at a mean of 22.0 ± 13.9 months after switching. The degree of reduction in visual acuity was mean logMAR 0.34 ± 0.41 in eyes with limited response and mean 0.06 ± 0.20 in eyes without (p = 0.002). In addition, the duration between the diagnosis and the switching was shorter (p = 0.012), and the number of ranibizumab injections before switching was lower (p = 0.016) in eyes with limited response than in eyes without. Conclusions: Patients who showed limited response to aflibercept after switching to aflibercept showed a worse visual outcome. The probability of having a limited response is higher when the switching is performed earlier.


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