Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Intravitreal injections of antiangiogenic agents (anti-VEGF) can stop vision loss in the neovascular form of the disease (nAMD). The aim of this study was to assess the general health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a cohort of patients with nAMD treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections and to detesrmine to what extent their HRQoL was affected by COVID-19. This was an observational, analytical, and longitudinal study performed with a two-wave panel survey. Clinical outcomes, HRQoL, and tangible support were evaluated. In the final survey, changes in living conditions and medical visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic were also examined. Of the 102 patients initially interviewed in the before-COVID survey, 24 were lost after 30 months of follow-up. In the initial assessment, the mean health index was 0.73 ± 0.2. The EQ VAS score worsened at the final survey (p = 0.048). Patients needing treatment in both eyes (p = 0.007) and with lower levels of bilateral visual acuity (p = 0.018) reported an increase in social support at the final survey. In conclusion, patients perceived a worsening in HRQoL after confinement. However, patients enjoyed good social support that improved in the after-COVID survey.

Purpose To report the incidence and quantity of silicone oil microbubbles and the relationship with the number of intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections and evaluate if microbubbles induce artefacts on optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Methods Observational, descriptive, cross‐sectional study. Patients with wet age‐related macular degeneration were included who had been treated for 1 year minimally with anti‐VEGF injections repackaged in the hospital pharmacy. Detection and quantification of silicone microbubbles by mydriatic biomicroscopic examination were conducted 1 month after the last injection. The numbers of microbubbles were quantified on a scale of 0–3: 0, none; 1 scarce (1–10 microbubbles); 2 moderate (10–30); or 3 numerous (>30). Shadowing on OCT images was classified as 0–3: 0, none; 1 obscuring some retinal layers; 2 obscuring all retinal layers; or 3 obscuring the retinal thickness. Results The study included 142 eyes of 98 patients (mean age, 82.4 years + 7.3; range, 65–97) treated with 2377 injections. Microbubbles were detected in 127 (89.4%) eyes, 62 (43.6%) with numerous microbubbles and 36 (25.4%) and 29 (20.4%), respectively, with scarce and moderate numbers. A positive correlation was found between the numbers of injections and intravitreal silicone (rho, 0.7). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) artefacts were detected in 11 eyes; the artefacts obscured all retinal layers in three eyes. No significant relationship could be established between the appearance of floaters and the microbubbles. Conclusion The presence and number of silicone microbubbles were correlated with the number of intravitreal injections. Microbubbles can produce OCT artefacts, which can hinder the treatment decision.

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