Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab

Donald R Nixon, Nicholas AP Flinn Trimed Eye Center, Barrie, ON, Canada Purpose: This study aims to investigate changes in contrast sensitivity (CS), visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and vision-related quality of life in subjects with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema switche...

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Main Authors: Nixon DR, Flinn NAP
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-01-01
Series:Clinical Ophthalmology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/evalation-of-contrast-sensitivity-and-other-visual-function-outco-peer-reviewed-article-OPTH
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author Nixon DR
Flinn NAP
author_facet Nixon DR
Flinn NAP
author_sort Nixon DR
collection DOAJ
description Donald R Nixon, Nicholas AP Flinn Trimed Eye Center, Barrie, ON, Canada Purpose: This study aims to investigate changes in contrast sensitivity (CS), visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and vision-related quality of life in subjects with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema switched from long-term ranibizumab treatment to aflibercept.Patients and methods: In this prospective, investigator-masked, single-center study, 40 patients with persistent fluid, despite previous ranibizumab treatment, were switched to aflibercept with 5 consecutive monthly doses. The primary outcome was mean change from baseline to week 20 in Pelli–Robson CS. Secondary outcomes were mean change from baseline in best-corrected VA (BCVA), CRT, and National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire score.Results: Fifty eyes (baseline VA >6/30) were evaluated. A median of 21.1±11.9 (range 5–55) ranibizumab injections were administered prior to initiation of aflibercept. Mean CS improved from 1.40±0.14 log units at baseline to 1.46±0.15 log units at week 20 (P<0.001). VA improved with mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA of 0.33±0.19 at baseline compared with logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA of 0.28±0.16 at week 20 (P=0.0016). Mean CRT decreased from 324±85 to 289±61 µm (P<0.001). Twenty-two (55%) patients experienced an overall improvement in National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire score. Interestingly, an association was found between changes in CS and change in CRT (r2=0.385, P<0.001) and between changes in BCVA and change in CRT (r2=0.092, P=0.032).Conclusion: Switching from ranibizumab to aflibercept in patients with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema resulted in an improvement in all measured metrics, including CS, VA, and CRT. A majority of patients also indicated an improvement in vision-related quality of life. The finding of a stronger relationship between changes in CRT and CS compared with changes in CRT and BCVA suggests that the inclusion of CS as an endpoint may yield a more complete understanding of visual outcomes than that obtained by using VA alone. Keywords: aflibercept, ranibizumab, diabetic macular edema, contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, anti-VEGF
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spelling doaj.art-6f73f4244d974fd7935020e82ade442d2022-12-21T21:52:54ZengDove Medical PressClinical Ophthalmology1177-54832018-01-01Volume 1219119736489Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumabNixon DRFlinn NAPDonald R Nixon, Nicholas AP Flinn Trimed Eye Center, Barrie, ON, Canada Purpose: This study aims to investigate changes in contrast sensitivity (CS), visual acuity (VA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and vision-related quality of life in subjects with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema switched from long-term ranibizumab treatment to aflibercept.Patients and methods: In this prospective, investigator-masked, single-center study, 40 patients with persistent fluid, despite previous ranibizumab treatment, were switched to aflibercept with 5 consecutive monthly doses. The primary outcome was mean change from baseline to week 20 in Pelli–Robson CS. Secondary outcomes were mean change from baseline in best-corrected VA (BCVA), CRT, and National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire score.Results: Fifty eyes (baseline VA >6/30) were evaluated. A median of 21.1±11.9 (range 5–55) ranibizumab injections were administered prior to initiation of aflibercept. Mean CS improved from 1.40±0.14 log units at baseline to 1.46±0.15 log units at week 20 (P<0.001). VA improved with mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA of 0.33±0.19 at baseline compared with logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution BCVA of 0.28±0.16 at week 20 (P=0.0016). Mean CRT decreased from 324±85 to 289±61 µm (P<0.001). Twenty-two (55%) patients experienced an overall improvement in National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire score. Interestingly, an association was found between changes in CS and change in CRT (r2=0.385, P<0.001) and between changes in BCVA and change in CRT (r2=0.092, P=0.032).Conclusion: Switching from ranibizumab to aflibercept in patients with recalcitrant diabetic macular edema resulted in an improvement in all measured metrics, including CS, VA, and CRT. A majority of patients also indicated an improvement in vision-related quality of life. The finding of a stronger relationship between changes in CRT and CS compared with changes in CRT and BCVA suggests that the inclusion of CS as an endpoint may yield a more complete understanding of visual outcomes than that obtained by using VA alone. Keywords: aflibercept, ranibizumab, diabetic macular edema, contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, anti-VEGFhttps://www.dovepress.com/evalation-of-contrast-sensitivity-and-other-visual-function-outco-peer-reviewed-article-OPTHafliberceptranibizumabdiabetic macular edemacontrast sensitivityvisual acuityanti-VEGF
spellingShingle Nixon DR
Flinn NAP
Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab
Clinical Ophthalmology
aflibercept
ranibizumab
diabetic macular edema
contrast sensitivity
visual acuity
anti-VEGF
title Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab
title_full Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab
title_fullStr Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab
title_short Evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab
title_sort evaluation of contrast sensitivity and other visual function outcomes in diabetic macular edema patients following treatment switch to aflibercept from ranibizumab
topic aflibercept
ranibizumab
diabetic macular edema
contrast sensitivity
visual acuity
anti-VEGF
url https://www.dovepress.com/evalation-of-contrast-sensitivity-and-other-visual-function-outco-peer-reviewed-article-OPTH
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