Associations between baseline ischaemia and visual acuity

Analyses of data collected in the COMRADE studies suggest that, in eyes with retinal vein occlusion (RVO), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at baseline and the course of BCVA over time may be influenced by the characteristics of baseline ischaemia. The number of treatments given for treatment of the RVO, however, may not be affected by the presence or absence of central or peripheral ischaemia, said Amelie Pielen MD, of Hannover Medical School, Germany, at the 16th EURETINA Congress in Copenhagen. The COMRADE studies randomised patients with visual impairment due to macular oedema secondary to branch RVO (BRVO) or central RVO (CRVO) to ranibizumab (Lucentis) or the dexamethasone 0.7mg implant (Ozurdex). At baseline, investigators evaluated fluorescein angiography images for the presence of an enlarged central avascular area and for the presence and extent of peripheral retinal non-perfusion. In both patients with BRVO and CRVO, mean baseline BCVA was lower in those with an enlarged central avascular area versus those without it, and among those with peripheral non-perfusion compared to those without this feature. Among ranibizumab-treated patients only, gains in visual acuity from baseline to month 15 were comparably high independent of baseline ischaemic status. Among CRVO patients, those with an enlarged central avascular area randomised to the corticosteroid implant lost vision over time. In both the CRVO and BRVO cohorts and for both treatment groups, mean number of treatments received was similar regardless of baseline ischaemic status. “We are currently doing the statistics of these secondary analyses,” Dr Pielen said.