Objective:
To evaluate the impact of treatment frequency and gaps in intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment on long-term vision outcomes in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Key Findings:
- Approximately 40% of patients experienced a treatment gap of at least 180 days by the end of year 1.
- By year 7, up to 80% of patients had a treatment gap.
- Patients without treatment gaps had better initial vision gains and slower declines over time compared to those with gaps.
Interpretation:
Continuous treatment with anti-VEGF agents is crucial for maintaining vision in wet AMD patients, as treatment interruptions lead to poorer long-term outcomes.
Limitations:
- Retrospective nature of the study may introduce biases.
- Findings are based on a specific database and may not be generalizable to all populations.
Conclusion:
The study underscores the importance of minimizing treatment gaps in managing wet AMD to optimize vision outcomes, especially as new therapies with longer durations of action are anticipated.
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