Long-Term Longitudinal Choroidal Thickness Changes after Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
10.21561/jor.2024.9.2.162
- Author:
Daniel Duck-Jin HWANG
1
;
A Young LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Hangil Eye Hospital, Incheon, Korea
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:
Journal of Retina
2024;9(2):162-168
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:To investigate the long-term effects of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injection on choroidal thickness and its correlation with visual acuity (VA) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
Methods:This retrospective study evaluated VA, central macular thickness (CMT), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography at baseline, followed by assessments for up to five years post-injection. Comparisons were made between nAMD and fellow eyes, as well as between baseline and post-injection values within each group. A multiple regression model was used to analyze factors influencing final VA, including baseline VA, age, sex, number of injections, nAMD subtype, baseline CMT and SFCT, and final CMT and SFCT.
Results:A total of 57 patients was included in this study. VA improved significantly in nAMD eyes up to one year after injection and then declined. Compared to fellow eyes, nAMD eyes had significantly poorer VA over the entire follow-up. In nAMD eyes, SFCT decreased significantly at each annual follow-up visit (p < 0.001 at every visit). The SFCT of nAMD and fellow eyes showed no significant difference at baseline and after one year. However, a significant difference was observed from the second year onward. Final VA significantly correlated only with baseline VA (standardized coefficients Beta = 0.380, p = 0.011).
Conclusions:The SFCT of nAMD eyes significantly decreased each year, becoming thinner than fellow eyes from the second year on.Throughout follow-up, nAMD eyes had poorer VA than fellow eyes and final VA of nAMD eyes correlated only with baseline VA.
