Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor for Retinal Pigment Epithelial Tear in Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear in retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). METHODS: In the present study we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 14 patients (14 eyes) diagnosed with RPE tear secondary to RAP treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) when the RPE tear developed was compared with BCVA at 6 months and at the final follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age of the study patients was 75.1 +/- 7.0 years and the mean follow-up period was 23.7 +/- 13.7 months. During the follow-up period, patients were treated with a mean of 2.8 +/- 1.3 intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. The mean logarithm of minimal angle of resolution BCVA when the RPE tear developed, at 6 months and at the final follow-up was 1.25 +/- 0.44, 1.44 +/- 0.56, and 1.65 +/- 0.39, respectively. The BCVA at 6 months was not different from the baseline value (p = 0.258), whereas the BCVA at the final follow-up was significantly worse than the baseline value (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of RPE tear in RAP is poor despite anti-VEGF therapy. This result suggests further investigations regarding the prevention of RPE tear or more effective treatment method for this condition are necessary.