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RELATIVE QUIESCENCE OF EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AFTER RESOLUTION OF POSTINJECTION ENDOPHTHALMITIS
Justin J Arnett1, Katarzyna Brodowska1,2, Denise S Gallagher1,2
1University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and.
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|December 5, 2019
Summary
Endophthalmitis following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections can lead to reduced treatment burden for exudative age-related macular degeneration. Many patients experience disease quiescence, decreasing the need for further anti-VEGF therapy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Retinal Diseases
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) requires continuous treatment with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections.
- Endophthalmitis is a rare but serious complication of intravitreal injections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in treatment burden and disease course of exudative AMD after endophthalmitis.
- To assess the impact of endophthalmitis on the need for ongoing anti-VEGF therapy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of patients with exudative AMD who developed endophthalmitis after anti-VEGF injections.
- Analysis of anti-VEGF injection frequency, choroidal neovascularization activity, and visual acuity before and after endophthalmitis.
Main Results:
- 33% of patients achieved quiescence of exudative AMD post-endophthalmitis, avoiding further anti-VEGF treatment.
- Patients resuming treatment showed a significant reduction in injection frequency (32-38%) within 24 months.
- Optical coherence tomography revealed quiescence of choroidal neovascularization in 10 patients.
Conclusions:
- Resolution of endophthalmitis is linked to decreased choroidal neovascularization activity.
- Endophthalmitis can lead to a reduced treatment burden for patients with exudative AMD.