The impact of epiretinal membrane on neovascular age‐related macular degeneration treatment: A spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography study

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the impact of epiretinal membrane (ERM) on anatomical and functional results in patients with wet age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth (anti‐VEGF) injections.MethodsParticipants in the study were 48 patients with either wet AMD alone (n = 27) or AMD and ERM (n = 21). All patients received intravitreal anti‐VEGF injections (3 monthly injections and PRN thereafter) and were followed‐up for at least 12 months. All participants had best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement and optical coherence tomography (OCT) at each visit, while fluorescein angiography was performed at baseline and then at the discretion of the physician. The main outcomes were the change in BCVA and central retinal thickness (CRT) along with the presence of fluid in the two groups.ResultsThere was a statistically significant improvement in BCVA in both groups, while the two groups did not differ significantly regarding BCVA at the end of the follow‐up. Accordingly, there was a statistically significant reduction in CRT in both groups, which did not have any difference in between. Patients with AMD alone presented subretinal fluid in a lower percentage than patients with AMD/ERM at the end of the follow‐up. In addition, patients with coexistence of AMD and ERM needed more injections than patients with AMD alone.ConclusionsPatients with AMD combined with ERM seemed to need more injections for the treatment of AMD, while they presented higher percentage of subretinal fluid at the 12‐month follow‐up, although there was no significant difference in BCVA and CRT in comparison with patients having AMD alone.