Intravitreal Aflibercept Monotherapy for Treating Submacular Hemorrhage Secondary to Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
10.3341/jkos.2018.59.5.437
- Author:
Sue Hey CHAE
1
;
Soh Eun AHN
;
Hee Seong YOON
Author Information
1. Sungmo Eye Hospital, Busan, Korea. heesyoon@dreamwiz.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Aflibercept;
Central macular thickness;
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration;
Submacular hemorrhage
- MeSH:
Choroid;
Follow-Up Studies;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Macular Degeneration;
Observational Study;
Retrospective Studies;
Visual Acuity
- From:Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society
2018;59(5):437-443
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal aflibercept injection in the treatment of submacular hemorrhage secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included patients diagnosed with nAMD with submacular hemorrhage treated with intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy. A total of 54 eyes of 54 patients were treated with an initial series of three monthly intravitreal aflibercept injections followed by as-needed injections. At the 6 month follow-up, changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and submacular hemorrhage area (SMH) were evaluated. RESULTS: The mean preoperative BCVA was 0.79 ± 0.59 logMAR, which improved significantly to 0.53 ± 0.46 logMAR at 3 months and 0.48 ± 0.50 logMAR at 6 months (p < 0.001, in both). The CMT significantly decreased in all eyes: preoperative, 454.4 ± 131.5 µm, to 242.6 ± 39.7 µm at 6 months. The SMH was also reduced in all eyes: preoperative, 6.4 ± 4.8 disc areas (DAs) to 0.8 ± 1.4 DAs at 6 months. Ten eyes were diagnosed with typical nAMD (18.5%) and 44 eyes were diagnosed polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (81.5%). There was no significant difference at 6 months in the visual outcomes of the subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal aflibercept monotherapy is well-tolerated as a treatment in maintaining or improving vision in patients with SMH secondary to nAMD.