Changes in the Foveal Avascular Zone Area and Retinal Vessel Density after Anti-VEGF Therapy for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate changes in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area and retinal vessel density (VD) in the macula of patients receiving multiple anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (N-AMD).

Methods

This study included 54 eyes of 54 treatment-naive N-AMD patients. Thirty-three eyes were treated with intravitreal aflibercept injections, and 21 eyes were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab injections. Unaffected fellow eyes (54 eyes) were used as controls. All image scans were acquired after the macular architecture had recovered with drying up of the subretinal fluid/hemorrhage after treatment.

Results

Both the superficial and deep FAZ areas were significantly larger in the aflibercept group than in the control group. The VD was also significantly reduced in the aflibercept group.

Conclusions

Prolonged and repeated anti-VEGF therapy may cause an increase in the FAZ area and a decrease in the VD in patients with N-AMD, indicating ischemic damage.