We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Koreans 50 yr of age or older who were examined at a single health promotion center. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 10,449 subjects who visited the center over a 6-month period. Fundus photography was performed on all subjects, and systematic risk factor analysis was conducted using a structured questionnaire. All patients (n = 322) were initially diagnosed with drusen or early AMD using fundoscopy; the control group (n = 10,127) were those yielding normal fundoscopy findings. The age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of early AMD was 3.08%. Advanced age, male gender, smoking status, hyperlipidemia, working outdoors, and residence in rural areas were all significantly associated with an increased risk for development of early AMD. Higher-level ingestion of fruit or herbal medication and an increased amount of exercise were associated with a lower risk of early AMD development. In our Korean cohort, consisting principally of relatively healthy, middle-class urban adults, the prevalence of early AMD was 3.08% that is similar to that reported in earlier epidemiological studies. Several modifiable risk factors such as smoking and hyperlipidemia are associated with the prevalence of early AMD in our cohort.
Age Factors ; Cohort Studies ; Community Health Centers ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias/complications ; Macular Degeneration/complications/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Smoking

Choroidal neovascular membranes are often poorly defined on fluorescein angiography because of fluorescein leakage or blockage of hyperfluorescence by overlying hemorrhage, lipid, turbid fluid, or pigment. Indocyanine green (ICG) is a highly protein-bound dye in the near infrared portion of the spectrum. Therefore, ICG remained in and around the neovascular membrane and enhanced the visualization of certain membranes poorly defined with fluorescein. ICG penetrated through the overlying turbid tissue, and improved the visualization of the underlying choroidal neovascular membrane. Using an infrared angiography system, the authors obtained 21 ICG-angiograms with suspected choroidal neovascularization, and compared them to fluorescein angiograms. In 5 of the 21 eyes, occult choroidal neovascularization was well delineated on the ICG angiograms. In 2 eyes, we were able to detect a well-defined choroidal neovascular membrane underlying a subretinal hemorrhage. In 12 of the 21 eyes with choroidal neovascular membrane, we performed argon-green laser photocoagulation applying the overlay technique of the ICG angiogram to red-free photo or the early fluorescein angiogram, and evaluated the effect of full coverage laser treatment.
Choroid/*blood supply ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography/*methods ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green/*diagnostic use ; *Laser Coagulation ; Macular Degeneration/*complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/diagnosis/etiology/*surgery ; Retinal Hemorrhage/complications ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To identify the unique pathologic findings of retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) in optical coherence tomography (OCT). METHODS: Retrospectively, 29 eyes of 25 patients with age-related macular degeneration and complicated RAP were analyzed. All 29 eyes had choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the area of pigment epithelial detachment (PED) or adjacent to it, which was visible with fluorescein angiography or indocyanine green angiography. Cross-sectional images were obtained by OCT scanning through the CNV lesions. RESULTS: Six distinctive findings of OCT included drusen (100%), inner retinal cyst (80%), outer retinal cyst (68%), fibrovascular PED (84%), serous retinal detachment (40%), and PED (68%). CONCLUSIONS: Through analysis of OCT findings, we revealed six different types of lesions distinctive of RAP which may provide helpful diagnostic information for subsequent treatment and predicting the prognosis of RAP.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration/*complications/diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retina/*pathology ; Retinal Neovascularization/*diagnosis/etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/*methods

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Twenty-one eyes with choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD were studied before and after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), OCT, and mfERG. RESULTS: The BCVA improved, while central macular thickness and total macular volume in OCT decreased after intravitreal bevacizumab injection (p = 0.03, 0.01, and 0.01, respectively). In mfERG, the amplitude of P1, and implicit time of P1 and N1 indicated a statistically significant improvement of retinal response after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. CONCLUSIONS: There is a potential role for mfERG in evaluating the effect on retinal function of intravitreal bevacizumab injection.
Adult ; Aged ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/*administration & dosage ; Choroidal Neovascularization/*drug therapy/*etiology ; Electroretinography/*methods ; Eyeglasses ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Degeneration/*complications/diagnosis/physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Retina/drug effects/physiopathology ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) is the first choice of treatment for age-related macular degeneration. However, quite a few eyes treated using conventional dose anti-VEGF (CDAV) have persistent pigment epithelial detachment (PED) on optical coherence tomography. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of high dose anti-VEGF (HDAV) for refractory PED. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 31 eyes of neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients with persistent PED findings despite six or more intravitreal injections of CDAV (bevacizumab 1.25 mg or ranibizumab 2.5 mg) were analyzed. Changes in visual outcome, central foveal thickness, and PED height were compared before and after HDAV (bevacizumab 5.0 mg) for these refractory PED cases. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 67.7 years. The number of CDAV injections was 12.1. The number of HDAV injections was 3.39. Best-corrected visual acuity in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution before and after HDAV was 0.49 and 0.41 (p < 0.001), respectively. Central foveal thickness before and after HDAV was 330.06 and 311.10 µm (p = 0.125), respectively. PED height before and after HDAV was 230.28 and 204.07 µm (p = 0.014), respectively. There were no serious adverse reactions in all the eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the dose of bevacizumab in refractory PED may be a possible treatment option.
Aged ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage ; Bevacizumab/*administration & dosage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macular Degeneration/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Detachment/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Retinal Pigment Epithelium/*diagnostic imaging/drug effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of a combined photodynamic therapy and intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was administered to 28 eyes followed by 3 consecutive bevacizumab injections. Patients were followed-up for more than 12 months. At baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post PDT, visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness were measured using optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: The mean VA was significantly improved from logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution 0.86 at baseline to 0.69 at 1 month (p = 0.011), 0.63 at 3 months (p = 0.003), 0.64 at 6 months (p = 0.004) and 0.60 at 12 months (p < 0.001). Central macular thickness decreased significantly from 328.3 microm at baseline to 230.0 microm at 6 months and 229.9 microm at 1 year (p < 0.001). Reinjection mean number was 0.4 for 6 months and 0.8 for 12 months. By 1 year, retreatment was performed in 10 eyes (36%). CONCLUSIONS: PDT combined with three consecutive intraviteal bevacizumab injections was effective in improving VA and reducing central macular thickness.
Aged ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/*administration & dosage ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/*administration & dosage ; Choroidal Neovascularization/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Macula Lutea/drug effects/*pathology ; Macular Degeneration/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Male ; Photochemotherapy/*methods ; Photosensitizing Agents/administration & dosage ; Porphyrins/*administration & dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monotherapy for patients diagnosed with submacular hemorrhage secondary to exudative age-related macular degeneration. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study included 49 patients (49 eyes) who initially presented with submacular hemorrhage associated with exudative age-related macular degeneration and who were followed-up for at least 24 months. Only eyes that were treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF monotherapy were included in the study. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurements obtained at diagnosis, six months, and the final visit were compared. The associations of BCVA at the final visit with baseline BCVA, BCVA at six months, symptom duration, hemorrhage extent, and central foveal thickness were also analyzed. RESULTS: Over the course of follow-up (mean, 32.1 +/- 8.5 months), an average of 5.1 +/- 2.2 anti-VEGF injections were administered. Recurrent hemorrhage was noted in 13 eyes (26.5%). The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution BCVA at diagnosis, six months, and the final visit were 1.40 +/- 0.52, 0.87 +/- 0.64, and 1.03 +/- 0.83, respectively. Both baseline BCVA (p = 0.012) and BCVA at six months (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with BCVA at the final visit. CONCLUSIONS: Improved visual acuity was maintained for more than two years with intravitreal anti-VEGF monotherapy. BCVA at six months is a useful clinical index to predict long-term visual prognosis.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage ; Bevacizumab/*administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ranibizumab/*administration & dosage ; Retina/*diagnostic imaging ; Retinal Hemorrhage/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Visual Acuity ; Wet Macular Degeneration/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy

PURPOSE: To report the results of switching treatment to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Trap-Eye (aflibercept) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) refractory to anti-VEGF (ranibizumab and bevacizumab). METHODS: This is a retrospective study involving 32 eyes from 29 patients; 18 were cases of neovascular AMD and 14 were cases of PCV. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography were evaluated. RESULTS: BCVA and CMT improved from 0.58 to 0.55 (p = 0.005) and from 404 to 321 microm (p < 0.001), respectively, after switching to aflibercept. The 14 eyes that received 6 or more aflibercept injections remained stable at 0.81 to 0.81 and 321 to 327 microm (p = 1.0, 0.29), respectively, after 3 aflibercept injections. The 10 eyes that received 3 or more bevacizumab injections after 3 or more aflibercept injections worsened, from 0.44 to 0.47 and from 332 to 346 microm (p = 0.06, 0.05), respectively. The results showed similar improvement of BCVA and CMT in neovascular AMD and PCV. CONCLUSIONS: Aflibercept seems to be effective for improvement and maintenance of BCVA and CMT for neovascular AMD and PCV refractory to anti-VEGF. Switching from aflibercept back to bevacizumab treatment may not be a proper strategy.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage ; Bevacizumab/administration & dosage ; Choroid/*blood supply ; Choroid Diseases/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intravitreal Injections ; Male ; Ranibizumab/administration & dosage ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor/*administration & dosage ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/*administration & dosage ; Retinal Neovascularization/complications/diagnosis/*drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/*antagonists & inhibitors ; *Visual Acuity ; Wet Macular Degeneration/diagnosis/*drug therapy/etiology