Effect of Ocriplasmin on objectively assessed retinal function after treatment of vitreomacular diseases

The scope of the study was the functional assessment of possible effects of intravitreally injected ocriplasmin using electroretinographical (ERG) examinations.

Seven subjects suffered from pathologies within the label of ocriplasmin (Jetrea^® ) were examined in the study. An extended international society for clinical electrophysiology of vision ERG protocol was used for baseline recordings (before treatment) and was repeated for comparison 3 months after treatment with intravitreally injected ocriplasmin. All subjects were examined using 6 steps and a 9 Hz flicker protocol as scotopic flicker response under dark-adapted conditions. Under light-adapted conditions, two single-flash responses (standard flash and On/Off protocol) and a 31 Hz flicker response was used for functional assessment.

A significant reduction of amplitudes was found for the lowest stimulation intensity (0.0001 cd.s/m²) under dark-adapted conditions after treatment (p = 0.027). All other parameters were not significantly different after treatment including the scotopic flicker response. Under light-adapted state, the a- and b-wave amplitudes were not significantly altered after treatment for single-flash and flicker responses. The On- and Off-responses were not significantly different between baseline and after the treatment.

One single significant difference of all examined parameters mirrors a difference due to chance, even if a negative effect of proteolytic enzymes on laminin and fibronectin of retinal cells cannot be entirely excluded. Nevertheless, this result should be respected in order to ensure a safe use of ocriplasmin for patients with vitreoretinal disorders.