FACTORS INFLUENCING THE NUMBER OF ANTI-VEGF INJECTIONS IN MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION: A Multicenter Study

To investigate the factors influencing the number of injections in myopic choroidal neovascularization as well as to identify the clinical features of patients who require a limited number of injections to inactive myopic choroidal neovascularization.

This retrospective study included 86 eyes (86 patients) affected by treatment-naïve myopic choroidal neovascularization who were treated with pro re nata antivascular endothelial growth factor injections with a follow-up at 12 months. Patients underwent complete ophthalmic visits, optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography both at baseline and at 12 months.

Overall, the mean age of the study population was 62 ± 14 years. The mean number of intravitreal injections administered in the 12-month study period was 4.28 ± 2.17. The multivariate analysis showed an association of baseline central macular thickness and best-corrected visual acuity ( P = 0.02 and 0.036, respectively) while the final factors related to injections number were subretinal fibrosis and final best-corrected visual acuity ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.022, respectively). Patients who required one or two injections showed significant clinical differences in optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and clinical parameters in comparison to patients who require more injections.

Baseline poorer best-corrected visual acuity and baseline higher central macular thickness are significantly associated with the need of more injections to stabilize the clinical picture in eyes affected by myopic choroidal neovascularization.