Prevalence of Geographic Atrophy in Advanced Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) in Daily Practice.

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence of geographic atrophy (GA) in advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the proportion of eyes that would meet the indication criteria for treatment with the first intravitreal anti-C3 agent (pegcetacoplan). METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study included all AMD patients who visited the Macular-Retina-Centre Oberkassel in 2021. Eyes were classified according to AMD stages. Eyes with GA were divided into two groups regarding foveal involvement. Baseline factors were compared between eyes with foveal GA (FGA) and eyes with non-foveal GA (NFGA) to identify predictive factors for foveal involvement. RESULTS: A total of 2033 eyes from 1027 patients were included. AMD stage was early in 296 (14.5%) cases, intermediate in 368 (18.1%) cases, and advanced in 1249 (61.4%) cases. A total of 1204 (60%) eyes had GA [932 (77%) FGA and 272 (23%) NFGA], while 125 eyes (27.4% from eyes with advanced dry AMD) met the indication criteria for treatment with intravitreal pegcetacoplan. The proportion of eyes with neovascular AMD was significantly higher in the FGA group compared to the NFGA group [598 (64.2%) vs. 152 (55.8%), p = 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: At least a quarter of eyes with advanced AMD would be suitable for the upcoming intravitreal pegcetacoplan therapy. Foveal involvement of GA in advanced AMD seems to be more likely in neovascular AMD than in dry AMD.

[Nanosecond Laser Treatment in Chorioretinopathia Centralis Serosa without RPE Defects: A Retrospective Case Series]. / Nanosekundenlaserbehandlung bei Chorioretinopathia centralis serosa ohne RPE-Defekte: eine retrospektive Fallserie.

BACKGROUND: Chorioretinopathia centralis serosa (CCS) is a uni- or bilateral disease of the macula which is characterized by detachment of the neuro-sensory retina. The spontaneous resolution rate is 68% after four months and 84% after six months. PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of subthreshold nanopulse laser treatment for central serous chorioretinopathy (CCS) in the absence of any atrophy in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 23 eyes of 23 patients without previous treatment. Patients were followed up to 12 months. Laser treatment was performed with the 2RT® nanolaser using a grid stimulation. Changes in corrected visual acuity (VA), microperimetry and subretinal fluid height in optical coherence tomographic images were measured. Saliences in autofluorescence images and angiographic images were observed. All results were documented 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the first treatment. Patients did not receive any supplementary treatment. RESULTS: Two months after the first treatment, 74% of the patients showed complete SRF resolution and 91% of the patients within 6 months had complete resorption of the SRF. Central visual acuity and macula sensitivity significantly improved from 0.18 ± 0.16 logMAR to 0.09 ± 0.17 logMAR and 24.19 ± 3.96 dB to 27.59 ± 2.89 dB. The SRF decreased within one month significantly. No CNV was documented during the observation time. The baseline subretinal fluid height is a predictive factor of faster resolution. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of our treatment results shows that the therapy is a safe and promising method. Patients with a CCS without existing RPE defects benefit from the treatment with the 2RT® nanolaser, which is associated with an improvement of the macula function.

Efficacy of nanosecond laser treatment in central serous chorioretinopathy with and without atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the outcomes of subthreshold nanosecond laser treatment of chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) as a function of the severity of concomitant of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) defects. METHODS: This retrospective study compares data from 23 CSC diagnosed eyes with only mild RPE defects (group 1), 16 CSC eyes with moderate RPE defects (group 2), and 17 CSC eyes having severe RPE defects (group 3). After subthreshold treatment with the standard Ellex 2RT™ nanosecond laser (Ellex Medical Lasers Ltd, Australia), changes in macular structure and levels of subretinal fluid (SRF) were assessed by OCT-SD, OCT-A, functional integrity of the retina was assessed by corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and microperimetry, each at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after initial treatment; re-treatment took place in cases of persistent SRF pro re nata. RESULTS: During the 12 months observation period, group 1 and 2 mostly required on initial and one re-treatment (1.9 ± 1.0 treatments; 1.9 ± 1.3 treatments). In contrast, group 3 was subject to three to four treatments (3.7 ± 1.5 treatments). 6 to 12 months after treatment, subretinal fluid (SRF) disappeared in 100% of the eyes of group 1 and in 76.9%, and 42.9% of the eyes of group 2 and group 3, respectively. Retinal sensitivity and CDVA improved in group 1 and 2, but did not change significantly in group 3 during the 12 months period. CONCLUSIONS: Subthreshold nanosecond laser treatment is an effective and safe method for the restoration of macular anatomy and sensitivity in acute and chronic CSC cases with only mild or moderate RPE defects. However, this laser treatment has very limited outcome in CSC eyes with more severe RPE defects.