Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To investigate if early detection of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in the second eye is associated with a reduced number of intravitreal treatments compared with the first eye using data from the EDNA/FASBAT trial. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of 117 participants receiving standard clinical care during the FASBAT study. Assessments were at enrolment and at an average of 18.9 (SD = 10.2) and 30.5 (SD = 9.7) months in the first eye. Assessment of the second eye was made at the onset of nAMD (as participants were monitored for conversion) and at 12- and 24-months. The annualised injection rate for first eyes and the actual rate for second eyes are reported alongside visual acuity (VA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics. RESULTS: In second eyes the annualised number of treatments was lower both in year 1 (second eyes mean = 6.4, SD = 3.4 vs mean = 7.2, SD = 1.9 in first eyes) and in year 2 (second eyes mean = 5.8, SD = 2.9; versus mean = 6.2, SD = 2.7 in first eyes). Second eyes had better VA at the point of conversion to nAMD (mean = 74.1, SD = 9.9) compared with the first eyes at baseline (mean = 55.6, SD = 15.3) which was maintained until 24 months (second eye: mean = 73.6, SD = 9.9; first eye: mean = 53.2, SD = 19.3). Highly reflective material was detected less frequently in second eyes compared to first eyes at clinical visits. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to first eyes, early detection of nAMD in the second eye is beneficial in terms of better maintenance of visual acuity, reduced intravitreal treatment burden, and improved anatomical findings after 2 years of treatment.