Long-Term Evolution and Growth Rate Assessment of Non-Exudative Macular Neovascularization: A Multicenter Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Diseases
• Macular Degeneration

Background:

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss.
• Non-exudative macular neovascularizations (neMNV) are a precursor to exudative AMD.
• Understanding neMNV progression is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence and conversion rate of neMNV to exudation in AMD patients.
• To identify clinical and anatomical differences between neMNV that progress to exudation and those that remain stable.
• To evaluate lesion growth rate and diameter as predictors of neMNV conversion.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, multicentric, longitudinal observational case series.
• Analysis of consecutive patients with exudative AMD in one eye and intermediate AMD in the fellow eye.
• Assessment of neMNV presence, conversion rate, and comparison of clinical/anatomical features.

Main Results:

• 6.3% of analyzed eyes (61/840) showed neMNV.
• 34.4% of neMNV (21/61) converted to exudation over a mean of 24.14 months.
• Higher lesion growth rate, but not baseline diameter or OCT angiography features, predicted exudation (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Lesion growth rate is a significant marker for neMNV conversion risk in AMD.
• Lesion diameter is a reliable parameter for monitoring neMNV progression.
• Neovascularizations in AMD may represent a spectrum with varying clinical courses, with many remaining non-exudative long-term.