The impact of COVID-19 on aflibercept treatment of neovascular AMD in Sweden - data from the Swedish Macula Register.

Background: The purpose of the study was to compare the real-world aflibercept treatment and visual outcomes, and to examine the adherence to pandemic guidelines in two groups of patients with treatment-naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) before and during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden up to the 1-year follow-up.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study including 2915 treatment naïve eyes with nAMD. Using data from the Swedish Macula Register (SMR), 1597 eyes initiating treatment between 1 July 2018 and 31 January 2019 (pre-pandemic group) were compared with 1318 eyes starting treatment between 1 February and 31 August 2020 (pandemic group).

A novel phenotype associated with the R162W variant in the gene.

Background: Pathogenic variants in 3 have been associated with both autosomal dominant Snowflake vitreoretinal degeneration (SVD) and autosomal recessive Leber congenital amaurosis. SVD is characterized by aberrant vitreoretinal interface leading to increased risk of retinal detachment, crystalline retinal snowflake deposits, optic disc abnormalities, early-onset cataract, and cornea guttae. Reduced dark adaptation and reduced scotopic rod b-waves have also been described.

Electrophysiological evaluation and 18-month follow-up of two regimens with aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To compare two aflibercept treatment regimens and the electrophysiological outcome concerning cone and rod function in age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) over 18 months.

Methods: 41 patients with treatment-naïve nAMD were randomized 1:1 to either arm 1 or 2. Arm 1 received three consecutive monthly aflibercept injections, followed by bimonthly treatment until week 52.

What about the fellow eye in treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration? Analysis of data from the Swedish macula register.

Purpose: To analyse the development of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in the fellow eye in patients initially presenting with unilateral nAMD, using data from the Swedish Macula Register.

Methods: This observational study included data on treatment-naïve patients who initially underwent unilateral treatment for nAMD, and then required bilateral treatment, between 2010 and 2018, according to the Swedish Macula Register (SMR). The data were also stratified according into three time periods (2010-2013; 2014-2016; 2017-2018).

Exploration of real-world outcomes and treatment patterns in patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factors for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Sweden.

Purpose: To analyse and compare the number and interval of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), as well as the visual development in patients followed up for one to three years in clinical practice and during different index periods.

Methods: This observational study included treatment-naïve eyes with nAMD from the Swedish Macula Register that started treatment between 2007 and 2017, stratified by different index periods (2007-2010, 2011-2013, 2014-2015 and 2016-2017) and by follow-up cohorts for each index period of one, two or three years (cohorts 1-3). Their intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment was assessed by number of injections, injection intervals, visual acuity (VA) and near VA change.

Twelve per cent of 6142 eyes treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) presented with low visual outcome within 2 years. Analysis from the Swedish Macula Registry (SMR).

Purpose: To analyse characteristics from the SMR to explore the risk factors for visual acuity (VA) below ≤ 35 letters of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) due to nAMD during a two-year follow-up.

Methods: This study evaluates 6142 treatment-naïve eyes, with focus on a subgroup of 780 eyes with final VA outcome of ≤ 35 letters, regarding differences of baseline characteristics, change of VA, number of injections and choice of drug to predict visual outcome.

Results: Patients with final VA ≤ 35 letters were older; p < 0.

Full-field ERG as a predictor of the natural course of -associated retinal degenerations.

Purpose: To assess retinal function in combination with the retinal structure in -associated retinal degenerations. Moreover, to evaluate the possibility of predicting the natural course of these disorders.

Methods: 34 patients with Stargardt disease or cone rod dystrophy carrying confirmed mutations in were selected from our retinitis pigmentosa (RP) register.

No improvement in injection frequency or in visual outcome over time in two cohorts of patients from the same Swedish county treated for wet age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Although ranibizumab has been used for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) since 2007, real-world studies still report undertreatment resulting in a less favorable visual outcome. In this study, two different time cohorts of patients treated with ranibizumab for wet AMD in routine care were analyzed to observe whether there was a change over time regarding visual outcome, injection frequency, and quality of life (QoL).

Methods: We compared patients with treatment-naïve wet AMD in two observational follow-up cohorts 2007-2010 (n=50 patients) and 2009-2013 (n=26).

Peripheral retinal function assessed with 30-Hz flicker seems to improve after treatment with Lucentis in patients with diabetic macular oedema.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of ranibizumab on the multifocal electroretinogram (Mf-ERG), full-field electroretinogram (Ff-ERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in diabetic eyes (n = 20) with macular oedema.

Methods: In 20 eyes (20 diabetic subjects) with no or background diabetic retinopathy and macular oedema (age 65.7 ± 9.