A prospective nonrandomized clinical study on exudative age related macular degeneration

Abstract

A prospective nonrandomized clinical study on exudative age related macular degenerationIntroduction: Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in individuals over 50 years in developed countries. The objective was to study the various fundus fl uorescein angiogram (FFA) patterns of exudative ARMD and monitor the treatment response and the change in visual acuity, macular thickness, angiographic patterns following intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and to assess the systemic risk factors for exudative ARMD. Materials and Methods: This prospective nonrandomized clinical study was carried out among 50 patients of ARMD diagnosed by FFA and optical coherence tomogram (OCT) with best corrected visual acuity of <6/24 (Snellen's chart), Macular thickness by OCT, FFA was done before and after giving injection of bevacizumab. Patients were asked for regular followup at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. Results: Fifty-two percent cases with classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) showed 1 line improvement at the end of 2 months and 56% of cases showing 2 lines improvement at 4 months. About 50% of occult CNVM showed more than 2 lines improvement at 4 months. About 50% of Classic CNVM and 40% of occult CNVM showed reduction in macular thickness of 50 μ at the end of 2 months, and 52% of both CNVM types showed reduction of 100 μ at the end of 4 months. Conclusions: In India ophthalmologists feel that AMD is an uncommon condition. By this study, we proved that although its prevalence rate is low in India as compared with Western countries, Indians are not immune from developing AMD. Abstract Access this article onlineWebsite: www.ijmedph.org