Injection Frequency and Differences in Visual Outcomes based on Diagnosis Year in Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in injection frequency based on the diagnosis year in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the differences in visual outcomes associated with these changes.Methods: This retrospective study included 667 patients (667 eyes) diagnosed with treatment-naïve neovascular AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. The number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and degree of changes in visual acuity during the first 24 months after diagnosis were compared among the 4 years.Results: The 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 groups had a mean of 5.7 ± 2.7, 6.0 ± 2.8, 6.6 ± 3.0, and 6.9 ± 3.3 anti-VEGF injections, respectively. The number of injections was significantly higher in 2019 than in 2013 and 2015 (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The mean degree of visual change during the 24-month follow-up period was 0.07 ± 0.55, 0.01 ± 0.51, 0.08 ± 0.50, and 0.04 ± 0.48 in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019, respectively. There was a significant difference in the degree of visual change among the four groups (<i>p</i> = 0.020).Conclusions: Patients diagnosed more recently tend to receive more injections and have better visual outcomes. We speculate that more injections contributed to these results. This trend should be considered when predicting the future socioeconomic burden of neovascular AMD.