Clinical features associated with the atrophy of fellow eyes in patients with unilateral type 3 macular neovascularization

Abstract

Purpose: We sought to investigate the clinical features of eyes with unilateral type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV) according to the degenerative features of fellow eyes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 55 patients with unilateral type 3 MNV and identified degenerative features including geographic atrophy (GA) in fellow eyes using multimodal imaging. Then, the clinical features of eyes with type 3 MNV at baseline and during follow-up with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment and an as-needed regimen were compared according to the degenerative features of fellow eyes.

Results: Eighteen patients (32.7%) had GA in fellow eyes; initial disease manifestations of type 3 MNV eyes including stage, best-corrected visual acuity, and choroidal thickness (CT) did not vary between groups (all P > 0.05). During follow-up, a rate of complete fluid resolution after three monthly loading injections was not associated with GA in fellow eyes (P = 0.703), while a lower rate of early recurrence within 3 months after loading treatment was associated with thinner CT in type 3 MNV eyes and GA over one disc area in fellow eyes (P = 0.025 and P = 0.021).

Conclusion: Degenerative features of fellow eyes in patients with unilateral type 3 MNV may be associated with the clinical characteristics of affected eyes.

Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; Geographic atrophy; Optical coherence tomography; Retinal pigment epithelium and outer retinal atrophy; Type 3 macular neovascularization.