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Photoreceptor Integrity Predicts Response to Anti-VEGF Treatment
Asaf Achiron1, Ayana Kydyrbaeva, Vitaly Man
1Department of Ophthalmology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel.
Purpose:
Assessing changes in foveal photoreceptor microstructure (FPM) following intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment may serve as a prognostic marker in patients with macular edema (ME).
Methods:
Sixteen eyes belonging to newly diagnosed patients with ME were included in this prospective longitudinal study. FPM integrity was evaluated at baseline and at the end of a series of anti-VEGF injections.
Results:
Treatment led to a significant improvement in mean visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness. A larger FPM defect was associated with lower VA, both before and after treatment. Patients with larger FPM defects at baseline had smaller VA improvements, and the improvement in FPM integrity was associated with VA improvement (every 100-µm FPM recovery contributed to a gain of 0.04 logMAR).
Conclusions:
Recovery of FPM after anti-VEGF treatment was significantly associated with a VA improvement. Direct measurement of photoreceptor integrity might provide an additional tool for the assessment of retinal function and treatment response in patients newly diagnosed with ME.
Insights
Foveal photoreceptor microstructure (FPM) changes after anti-VEGF treatment predict visual acuity (VA) improvement in macular edema (ME) patients. Assessing FPM integrity offers a new prognostic tool for treatment response.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Macular edema (ME) causes vision loss.
- Anti-VEGF therapy is a standard treatment for ME.
- Prognostic markers for treatment response are needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess changes in foveal photoreceptor microstructure (FPM) after intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment.
- To determine if FPM changes can serve as a prognostic marker for visual acuity (VA) in ME patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal study of 16 eyes with newly diagnosed ME.
- Evaluation of FPM integrity at baseline and post-anti-VEGF injections.
- Correlation of FPM integrity with VA and central macular thickness.
Main Results:
- Anti-VEGF treatment significantly improved VA and reduced central macular thickness.
- Larger baseline FPM defects correlated with lower VA and smaller VA gains post-treatment.
- FPM recovery of 100 µm was associated with a 0.04 logMAR VA gain.
Conclusions:
- FPM recovery after anti-VEGF treatment is significantly linked to VA improvement in ME patients.
- Direct measurement of photoreceptor integrity can be an additional tool for assessing retinal function.
- FPM assessment may aid in predicting treatment response in newly diagnosed ME.
