Coherence Tomography Central Subfield Thickness Research Articles

0.18 MG FLUOCINOLONE ACETONIDE INSERT FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC POSTOPERATIVE PSEUDOPHAKIC CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA.

To report the outcomes of the 0.18 mg fluocinolone acetonide insert (FAi) in the treatment of chronic (>6 months) postoperative cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery. This was a retrospective consecutive case series of eyes with chronic postoperative cystoid macular edema treated with the FAi. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography metrics, and supplemental therapies were extracted from the charts before and at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 21 months after FAi placement, when available. Nineteen eyes of 13 patients with chronic postoperative cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery underwent FAi placement with an average follow-up of 15.4 months. Ten eyes (52.6%) had a ≥2-line gain in visual acuity. Sixteen eyes (84.2%) had a ≥20% reduction in optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness. Eight eyes (42.1%) had complete resolution of CME. Improvements in central subfield thickness and visual acuity were sustained throughout individual follow-up. Compared with 18 eyes (94.7%) requiring local corticosteroid supplementation before FAi, only six eyes (31.6%) required supplementation after FAi. Similarly, of the 12 eyes (63.2%) that were on corticosteroid drops before FAi, only 3 (15.8%) required drops after FAi. Eyes with chronic postoperative cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery treated with the FAi had improved and sustained visual acuity and optical coherence tomography metrics, along with a reduction in supplemental treatment burden.

Retinal characteristics in eyes with pathologic myopia among individuals self-identifying as Black

ObjectiveInvestigate retinal characteristics of pathologic myopia (PM) among patients self-identifying as Black. DesignRetrospective cohort single-institution retrospective medical record review. MethodsAdult patients between January 2005 and December 2014 with International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes consistent with PM and given 5-year follow-up were evaluated. The Study Group consisted of patients self-identifying as Black, and the Comparison Group consisted of those not self-identifying as Black. Ocular features at study baseline and 5-year follow-up visit were evaluated. ResultsAmong 428 patients with PM, 60 (14%) self-identified as Black and 18 (30%) had baseline and 5-year follow-up visits. Of the remaining 368 patients, 63 were in the Comparison Group. For the study (n = 18) and Comparison Group (n = 29), median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) baseline visual acuity was 20/40 (20/25, 20/50) and 20/32 (20/25, 20/50) in the better-seeing eye and 20/70 (20/50, 20/1400) and 20/100 (20/50, 20/200), respectively, in the worse-seeing eye. In the eyes that did not have choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the study and Comparison Group, median study baseline optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness was 196 μm (169, 306 μm) and 225 μm (191, 280 μm), respectively, in the better-seeing eye and 208 μm (181, 260 μm) and 194 μm (171, 248 μm), respectively, in the worse-seeing eye. Baseline prevalence of CNV was 1 Study Group eye (3%) and 20 Comparison Group eyes (34%). By the 5-year visit, zero (0%) and 4 (15%) additional eyes had CNV in the study and Comparison Group, respectively. ConclusionThese findings suggest that the prevalence and incidence of CNV may be lower in patients with PM self-identifying as Black when compared with individuals of other races.

Nepafenac and bromfenac versus a placebo in minimizing the incidence of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema after phacoemulsification

Objectives This study aims to evaluate the effect of two types of topical NSAIDs, nepafenac and bromfenac, in comparison with a placebo on macular edema after phacoemulsification. Background Cystoid macular edema (CME) is the commonest cause of visual decline after phacoemulsification. Design A prospective comparative randomized Open-label clinical trial was performed. Patients and methods A total of 75 patients with senile cataract were included in the present study. Of them, 19 patients were assigned to receive nepafenac 0.3% eye drops, 19 received bromfenac 0.09% eye drops, and 37 received a placebo. The primary outcome measure included the change in the mean spectral-domain optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 2 and 3 months after surgery. The secondary outcome measures included the total macular volume at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 2, 3 months postoperatively; the percentage of eyes in each group that developed CME; and the corrected visual acuity on 6 and 12 weeks after surgery. Results For all retinal thickness measurements, a significant increase in all three groups had been detected, starting from the first week postoperatively. Compared with the control regimen, add-on bromfenac or nepafenac resulted in statistically significant minimization of the changes in the following parameters: change in the macular volume and the central subfield thickness. Conclusion Topical NSAIDs therapy 2 days before surgery has an additive effect in minimizing the risk of pseudophakic CME. Bromfenac has statistically surpassed nepafenac in minimizing the incidence of CME after uneventful phacoemulsification.

Assessment of the DRCR Retina Network Approach to Management With Initial Observation for Eyes With Center-Involved Diabetic Macular Edema and Good Visual Acuity

Among eyes with center-involved diabetic macular edema (CI-DME) and good visual acuity (VA), randomized clinical trial results showed no difference in VA loss between initial observation plus aflibercept only if VA decreased, initial focal/grid laser plus aflibercept only if VA decreased, or prompt aflibercept. Understanding the initial observation approach is relevant to patient management. To assess the DRCR Retina Network protocol-defined approach and outcomes of initial observation with aflibercept only if VA worsened. This was a post hoc secondary analyses of a randomized clinical trial of the DRCR Retina Network Protocol V that included 91 US and Canadian sites from November 2013 to September 2018. Participants were adults (n = 236) with type 1 or 2 diabetes, 1 study eye with CI-DME, and VA letter score at least 79 (Snellen equivalent, 20/25 or better) assigned to initial observation. Data were analyzed from March 2019 to November 2019. Initial observation and follow-up with aflibercept only for VA loss of at least 10 letters from baseline at 1 visit or 5 to 9 letters at 2 consecutive visits. Follow-up occurred at 8 weeks and then every 16 weeks unless VA or optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness worsened. Whether individuals received aflibercept. Among 236 eyes in 236 individuals (149 [63%] male; median age, 60 years [interquartile range, 53-67 years]) randomly assigned to initial observation, 80 (34%) were treated with aflibercept during 2 years of follow-up. At 2 years, the median VA letter score was 86.0 (interquartile range, 89.0-81.0; median Snellen equivalent, 20/20 [20/16-20/25]). Receipt of aflibercept was more likely in eyes with baseline central subfield thickness at least 300 μm (Zeiss-Stratus equivalent) vs less than 300 μm (45% vs 26%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.98 [95% CI, 1.26-3.13], continuous P = .005), moderately severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study retinopathy severity level 47) and above vs moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (retinopathy severity level 43) and below (51% vs 27%; HR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.42-3.47], ordinal P < .001), and among participants whose nonstudy eye received DME treatment within 4 months of randomization vs not (52% vs 25%; HR, 2.55 [95% CI, 1.64-3.99], P < .001). Most eyes managed with initial observation plus aflibercept only if VA worsened maintained good vision at 2 years and did not require aflibercept for VA loss. However, the eyes in the trial were approximately twice as likely to receive aflibercept for VA loss if they had greater baseline central subfield thickness, worse diabetic retinopathy severity level, or a nonstudy eye receiving treatment for DME. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01909791.

Early Response to Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Two-Year Outcomes Among Eyes With Diabetic Macular Edema in Protocol T

Assess associations of 2-year visual acuity (VA) outcomes with VA and optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness (CST) after 12weeks of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for diabetic macular edema in DRCR.net Protocol T. Randomized clinical trial. Setting: Multicenter (89U.S. sites). Eyes with VA and CST data from baseline and 12-week visits (616 of 660 eyes randomized [93.3%]). Six monthly injections of 2.0mg aflibercept, 1.25mg bevacizumab, or 0.3mg ranibizumab; subsequent injections and focal/grid laser as needed for stability. Change in VA from baseline and VA letter score at 2 years. Twelve-week VA response was associated with 2-year change in VA and 2-year VA letter score for each drug (P < .001) but with substantial individual variability (multivariable R2= 0.38, 0.29, and 0.26 for 2-year change with aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab, respectively). Among eyes with less than 5-letter gain at 12weeks, the percentages of eyes gaining 10 or more letters from baseline at 2 years were 42% (20 of 48), 31% (21 of 68), and 47% (28 of 59), and median 2-year VA was 20/32, 20/32, and 20/25, in the aflibercept, bevacizumab, and ranibizumab groups, respectively. Twelve-week CST response was not strongly associated with 2-year outcomes. A suboptimal response at 12weeks did not preclude meaningful vision improvement (ie, ≥ 10-letter gain) in many eyes at 2 years. Eyes with less than 5-letter gain at 12weeks often had good VA at 2 years without switching therapies.

Intraindividual comparison of nepafenac 0.3% for the prevention of macular edema after phacoemulsification

To compare the antiinflammatory efficacy of topical nepafenac 0.3% for prophylaxis of macular edema after cataract extraction. São Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil. Prospective randomized clinical trial. Patients with bilateral cataract were included in this study. Each patient was assigned randomly to receive nepafenac 0.3% drops in 1 eye and a placebo in the fellow eye. The primary outcome measure was the change in the mean spectral-domain optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness 5weeks postoperatively. The secondary outcome measures were the total macular volume 1, 5, and 12weeks postoperatively; the percentage of patients in both groups who developed macular edema, and the corrected distance visual acuity within 5weeks and 12weeks after cataract surgery. The study comprised 224 eyes of 112 patients. For all retinal thickness measurements, a significant increase in both groups was detected starting from the first postoperative week until 12weeks. At 5weeks, there was a statistically significant difference in central subfield thickness and total macular volume between the nepafenac group and control group (P=.01 and P<.001, respectively). At the fifth postoperative week, no eye in the nepafenac group and 4 eyes (3.57%) in the control group had macula edema, highlighting a trend toward a greater incidence in the control group. The between-group differences in visual outcomes were not statistically significant. Used prophylactically after cataract surgery, nepafenac 0.3% was efficacious in reducing macular thickness compared with a placebo 5weeks postoperatively, without a difference in final visual acuity.

HYPERREFLECTIVE INTRARETINAL SPOTS IN RADIATION MACULAR EDEMA ON SPECTRAL DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY.

To better pathophysiologically characterize macular edema secondary to eye irradiation, analyzing the presence of optical coherence tomography (OCT) hyperreflective spots. Twenty-five consecutive eyes affected by radiation maculopathy, secondary to irradiation for a primary uveal melanoma, without macular involvement in the irradiation field, were consecutively enrolled. All subjects underwent full ophthalmologic examination, including fluorescein angiography, color fundus photography, and spectral domain OCT, even in en face modality. Optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness was stratified into the following 3 categories: <400 μm, 400 to 600 μm, and >600 μm. Spectral domain OCT images were analyzed to measure and localize hyperreflective spots by two independent masked graders. Hyperreflective spots were documented in all eyes (100%). Hyperreflective spots significantly increased in number according to OCT central subfield thickness (<400 μm, 400-600 μm, >600 μm, P < 0.05). The intergrader agreement was at least substantial for all measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.80). Spectral domain OCT documents discrete intraretinal reflectivity changes (hyperreflective spots) in all (studied) eyes affected by radiation maculopathy. Hyperreflective spots increase in number with increasing central subfield thickness and could be considered as a new clinical biomarker of intraretinal inflammation in patients affected by macular edema secondary to irradiation for uveal melanoma.

RANIBIZUMAB PLUS PROMPT OR DEFERRED LASER FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA IN EYES WITH VITRECTOMY BEFORE ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY.

The approach to managing diabetic macular edema in eyes with previous vitrectomy is based on limited evidence. Therefore, an exploratory post hoc assessment of 3-year data from eyes with and without vitrectomy before randomization in a DRCR.net trial that evaluated ranibizumab + prompt or deferred laser for diabetic macular edema is presented. Visual acuity and optical coherence tomography outcomes were compared between eyes with and without previous vitrectomy. At baseline, eyes with previous vitrectomy (n = 25) had longer duration of diabetes, worse visual acuity, less thickened central subfield measurements on optical coherence tomography and were more apt to have worse diabetic retinopathy severity level or previous treatment for macular edema or cataract surgery than eyes without a history of vitrectomy (n = 335). Analyses adjusted for these baseline imbalances did not identify substantial differences between eyes with and without previous vitrectomy at each annual visit through 3 years for the favorable visual acuity, optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness, or volume outcomes, although optical coherence tomography improvement appeared slower in vitrectomy eyes during the first year. This study provides little evidence that the beneficial clinical outcomes for patients with center-involved diabetic macular edema treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor are affected in the long term by previous vitrectomy.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Year 2 Results of the INTREPID Study

To determine the safety and efficacy of low-voltage, external-beam, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled, multicenter, clinical trial. A total of 230 participants with neovascular AMD who received ≥ 3 ranibizumab or bevacizumab injections within the preceding year and requiring treatment at enrollment. Participants received 16 Gray, 24 Gray, or sham SRT. All arms received pro re nata (PRN) ranibizumab for 12 months, with PRN bevacizumab or ranibizumab thereafter. Mean number of PRN injections; best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA); loss of <15 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters; change in optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness; and change in angiographic total lesion area and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) area. At year 2, the 16 and 24 Gray arms received fewer PRN treatments compared with sham (mean 4.5, P = 0.008; mean 5.4, P = 0.09; and mean 6.6, respectively). Change in mean BCVA was -10.0, -7.5, and -6.7 letters for the 16 Gray, 24 Gray, and sham arms, respectively, with 46 (68%), 51 (75%), and 58 participants (79%), respectively, losing <15 letters. Mean central subfield thickness decreased by 67.0 μm, 55.4 μm, and 33.3 μm, respectively. Mean total active lesion area increased by 1.0, 4.2, and 2.7 mm(2), respectively. Mean CNV area decreased by 0.1 mm(2) in all groups. An independent reading center detected microvascular abnormalities in 6 control eyes and 29 SRT eyes, of which 18 were attributed to radiation; however, only 2 of these possibly affected vision. An exploratory subgroup analysis found that lesions with a greatest linear dimension ≤ 4 mm (the size of the treatment zone) and a macular volume greater than the median (7.4 mm(3)) were more responsive to SRT, with 3.9 PRN injections versus 7.1 in comparable sham-treated participants (P = 0.001) and mean BCVA 4.4 letters superior to sham (P = 0.24). A single dose of SRT significantly reduces intravitreal injections over 2 years. Radiation can induce microvascular change, but in only 1% of eyes does this possibly affect vision. The best response occurs when AMD lesions fit within the treatment zone and they are actively leaking.

16 and 24 Gy Low-voltage X-ray Irradiation With Ranibizumab Therapy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: 12-Month Outcomes

To describe the 12-month safety and efficacy outcomes of 16 or 24Gy radiation using low-voltage x-ray irradiation in conjunction with intravitreal ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Prospective, phase I, open-label, nonrandomized uncontrolled safety study. setting: Institutional. study population: Neovascular AMD patients. intervention: One x-ray irradiation treatment at 16 or 24Gy was administered externally through 3 locations in the inferior pars plana. After 2 initial monthly loading doses of ranibizumab, subsequent ranibizumab was administered according to predetermined criteria. main outcome measures: Visual acuity, number of ranibizumab injections, safety and efficacy metrics at 12months. Forty-seven eyes of 47 patients were enrolled and completed 12months of follow-up: 16Gy (n= 28) and 24Gy (n= 19). There was no evidence of radiation retinopathy, optic neuropathy, or cataract. The mean visual acuity improved in both groups:+8.4 ± 11.9 letters and+7.8 ± 12 letters for 16 and 24 Gy, respectively. In both groups, 100% of subjects lost <15 letters, with 76% and 79% gaining ≥0 letters in the 16Gy and24Gy groups, respectively. Patients received a mean of 1.0 additional injection over 12months. Themean change in optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness from baseline to month 12 was-107 and-87μm for the 16Gy and 24Gy groups, respectively. One treatment of 16 or 24Gy low-voltage x-ray therapy with as-needed ranibizumab appears safe in subjects with neovascular AMD at 12months. An overall improvement in visual acuity was observed. No radiation-related adverse effects were reported.

Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration: 52-Week Safety and Efficacy Results of the INTREPID Study

To determine the safety and efficacy of low-voltage, external-beam, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). Randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled, multicenter, clinical trial. Two hundred thirty patients with onset of nvAMD within 3 years who received 3 or more injections of ranibizumab or bevacizumab within the preceding year and who needed continuing ranibizumab or bevacizumab treatment. Participants were randomized 2:1:2:1 to 16 Gy plus pro re nata (PRN) ranibizumab, sham 16 Gy plus PRN ranibizumab, 24 Gy plus PRN ranibizumab, or sham 24 Gy plus PRN ranibizumab, respectively. The primary efficacy end point was the mean number of ranibizumab injections at 52 weeks. Secondary end points were change in mean best-corrected visual acuity (VA), loss of fewer than 15 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, gain of 0 or more and 15 or more letters, and change in angiographic total lesion size and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) lesion size. Both the 16-Gy and 24-Gy SRT arms received significantly fewer ranibizumab treatments compared with the sham arms: mean number of treatments, 2.64 (median, 2), 2.43 (median, 2), and 3.74 (median, 3.5), respectively (P = 0.013 and P = 0.004, respectively, vs. sham). Change in mean VA was -0.28, +0.40, and -1.57 letters for the 16-Gy, 24-Gy, and sham arms, respectively. The 16-Gy, 24-Gy, and sham arms lost fewer than 15 letters in 93%, 89%, and 91% of eyes, respectively, with 53%, 57%, and 56% gaining 0 or more letters, respectively, and 4% gaining 15 letters or more in all arms. Mean total angiographic lesion area changed by -1.15 mm(2), +0.49 mm(2), and +0.75 mm(2), respectively; mean CNV lesion area decreased by 0.16 mm(2), 0.18 mm(2), and 0.10 mm(2), respectively. Optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness decreased by 85.90 μm, 70.39 μm, and 33.51 μm, respectively. The number of adverse events (AEs) and number of serious AEs (SAEs) were similar across arms. No AEs were attributed to radiation. No SAEs occurred in the study eye. A single dose of SRT significantly reduces ranibizumab retreatment for patients with nvAMD, with a favorable safety profile at 1 year. Whereas chronic nvAMD typically results in loss of VA over time, SRT is associated with relatively well-preserved VA over 1 year. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.

Super-dose Anti-VEGF (SAVE) Trial: 2.0 mg Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Recalcitrant Neovascular Macular Degeneration–Primary End Point

To determine whether a higher dose of intravitreal ranibizumab could improve the anatomy and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with persistent disease activity despite monthly intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections. Phase I to II multicenter, open-label, controlled clinical trial. Eighty-seven patients with recalcitrant neovascular AMD, defined as having leakage on fundus fluorescein angiography or spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) despite monthly anti-VEGF injections. Patients were treated with 2.0-mg ranibizumab injections monthly for 3 doses and monitored with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) 4-m refractions, clinical examinations, and SD-OCT. The mean change in baseline visual acuity (VA), the percentage of patients who experienced a loss or gain of 15 or more letters in ETDRS BCVA, the mean change in central retinal thickness, and the incidence of adverse events. Eighty-seven patients with an average of 24 injections before enrollment and a mean of 10.4 injections in the preceding 12 months had a mean refracted VA of 69.2 ETDRS letters (20/41 Snellen) and a mean central subfield of 422 μm at baseline. Mean VA gain over baseline was +2.5 letters at day 7 (n = 82), +3.7 letters at month 1 (n = 87), +3.9 letters at month 2 (n = 87), and +3.3 letters at month 3 (20/36 Snellen; P = 0.001; n = 86). Anatomic outcomes showed a mean optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness improvement from baseline of -48.4 μm at day 7 (n = 84), -37.5 μm at month 1 (n = 87), -42.4 μm at month 2 (n = 85), and -33.1 μm at month 3 (P = 0.01; n = 86). Intravitreal injections of 2.0 mg ranibizumab led to statistically significant VA gains and anatomic improvement in patients with persistent intraretinal, subretinal, or subretinal pigment epithelial fluid during a previous regimen of chronic monthly 0.5-mg ranibizumab injections.

The use of a vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor (ranibizumab) in macular edema due to eales disease.

To report the results of intravitreal use of ranibizumab in a patient with macular edema due to Eales disease. This was an open-label, Phase 1, 6-month study of the safety and efficacy of intravitreally administered ranibizumab in patients with macular edema due to Eales disease. A single patient was eligible for the study during the 2 years of recruitment. She received 3 monthly intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg of ranibizumab for 3 months. At each of her monthly visits during the 6-month study, she was evaluated with a full ocular examination and optical coherence tomography imaging of the macula. Primary outcome measure was change in optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness at 6 months. The central macular thickness as measured on optical coherence tomography reduced from 269 μm at baseline to 186 μm at 3 months. This reduction was transient with subsequent increase to 262 μm at the conclusion of the study at 6 months. Ranibizumab use led to transient resolution of macular edema at 3 months; however, this reduction in edema was not sustained.

Sustained-Release Intravitreal Liquid Drug Delivery Using Triamcinolone Acetonide for Cystoid Macular Edema in Retinal Vein Occlusion

To investigate side effects seen with this formulation and to search for evidence of effectiveness after a single intravitreal injection of IBI-20089 in eyes with cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion. Prospective, phase 1 clinical trial. Ten patients with chronic CME resulting from retinal vein occlusion. Patients received a single intravitreal injection of IBI-20089 using a sequential dose escalation schedule. Each cohort consisted of 5 patients who received the intravitreal injection of the sustained liquid drug delivery system containing either 6.9 mg (25 μl) triamcinolone acetonide (TA; cohort 1) or 13.8 mg (50 μl) TA (cohort 2). At each study visit, best-corrected visual acuity testing, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, IOP measurement, dilated ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed. Patients also underwent laboratory testing and physical examinations to monitor for any systemic adverse events. Optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness, ocular and systemic adverse events. In cohort 1, mean baseline OCT central subfield thickness (CST) was 477 μm and decreased to 369 μm at day 1 (P<0.06), 387 μm at day 30 (P = 0.18), and 251 μm at day 360 (P = 0.46). In cohort 2, mean baseline OCT CST was 518 μm and decreased to 404 μm at day 1 (P = 0.134), 289 μm at day 30 (P = 0.003), 207 μm at day180 (P = 0.004), and 278 μm at day 360 (P = 0.009). Related adverse events included elevation of IOP in 3 patients, in 2 because of neovascular glaucoma (not related to study drug) and in 1 who required a glaucoma tube shunt. A single intravitreal injection of IBI-20089 resulted in a controlled and sustained delivery of a TA. Side effects included elevated IOP in 3 eyes, 2 of which had neovascular glaucoma.

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC FINDINGS AFTER INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB (AVASTIN) TREATMENT

To evaluate the short-term electrophysiologic effects of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Nine subjects with AMD who received treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab for exudative AMD underwent pretreatment testing with multifocal electroretinography (mf-ERG) or Ganzfeld electroretinography (G-ERG). All five G-ERG subjects underwent repeated testing at 1 week after intravitreal bevacizumab. All four mf-ERG subjects and four of the five G-ERG subjects underwent repeated testing with the same pretreatment protocol at 1 month after treatment. One G-ERG subject also received a second intravitreal injection of bevacizumab at 6 weeks after initial treatment and underwent repeated testing at 1 month after the second dose (3 months after initial treatment). All four subjects undergoing mf-ERG had improvement of the macular response at 1 month of after treatment. The average improvement in response density of the central 15 degrees of macular response was 35% (range, 11-65%). Subjects undergoing G-ERG testing had no significant changes in electrophysiologic response, although some variation in amplitude and implicit time was noted at different testing times. Optical coherence tomography central subfield thickness decreased from 298 microm at baseline to 274 microm at 1 month after treatment. Visual acuity improved in a majority of subjects. In this study, the intravitreal use of bevacizumab resulted in improvement of mf-ERG macular function responses and relatively stable G-ERG responses. The macular electrophysiologic response suggests that macular function improves with treatment. G-ERG suggests that there is no significant measurable photoreceptor toxicity with the use of intravitreal bevacizumab over the short term.