Ocriplasmin for the Treatment of Symptomatic Vitreomacular Adhesion/Traction
Ocriplasmin has recently been introduced as a new treatment option for patients with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion/vitreomacular traction (VMA/VMT). Understanding its potential as well as its limitations is crucial as it becomes an additional tool in the management of these diseases. In this article the overall efficacy and safety of ocriplasmin are reviewed, focusing on the results from the phase III clinical trials as well as recently published case reports and postmarketing data analysis. Efficacy data from ocriplasmin use in a clinical setting support the subanalysis of the phase III clinical trial data. This analysis demonstrated that certain baseline ocular characteristics, namely focal VMA, and absence of epiretinal membrane, are predictive of VMA resolution. Safety findings show that the overall percentage of patients experiencing adverse events during the clinical trial program was low in ocriplasmin-treated patients. Postmarketing surveillance data corroborate findings from the phase III trials, and provide additional insights into the characterization of the safety profile of this new treatment option.