SUBRETINAL FIBROSIS AFTER ANTIVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY IN EYES WITH MYOPIC CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the incidence and risk factors of subretinal fibrosis and their impact on visual outcome in eyes with myopic CNV.

Methods: Medical records of 72 eyes treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in a pro re nata regimen for myopic CNV that followed up for more than 1 year were retrospectively reviewed. The presence of subretinal fibrosis after anti-VEGF therapy was determined using both fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography. The incidence and risk factors of subretinal fibrosis were evaluated, and best-corrected visual acuity was compared between the eyes with and without subretinal fibrosis.

Results: The incidences of subretinal fibrosis during the 1-year and whole follow-up period were 31.9% and 36.1%, respectively. Occurrence of subretinal fibrosis was associated with frequent CNV recurrence (P = 0.005) and poor baseline best-corrected visual acuity (P = 0.044) in a Cox proportional hazard model. Anatomically, the eyes with subretinal fibrosis showed more frequent progression of chorioretinal atrophy (95.7% vs. 71.4%, P = 0.027) and less frequent photoreceptor recovery (17.4% vs. 65.3%, P < 0.001) after anti-VEGF therapy. Occurrence of subretinal fibrosis was associated with poor vision at baseline (P = 0.011) and the final visit (P = 0.008) when compared with the findings in the nonoccurrence group.

Conclusion: Development of subretinal fibrosis after anti-VEGF therapy was common in eyes with myopic CNV and was associated with CNV recurrence. Myopic eyes with subretinal fibrosis show progressive chorioretinal atrophy and poor visual outcome.