Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in patients over 55 years of age in developed countries. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) allows for precise anatomic detection of structural changes that may correspond to progression or regression of the neovascular lesions such as intraretinal or subretinal fluid, intraretinal cystoid spaces, retinal pigment epithelium detachment (PED), and choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV).
Aim of the work: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) for patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD and their retinal morphological alterations as detected by SD-OCT and their prognostic significance.
Patients and Methods: A total forty-three eyes of thirty-nine patients with active subfoveal neovascular AMD were enrolled in this prospective cross sectional observational study and were categorized into two groups: Group A: [new CNV group]: 21 eyes of 19 patients were diagnosed as active subfoveal CNV and didn't receive any form of treatment. Group B: [Old CNV group]: 22 eyes of 20 patients had active subfoveal CNV & received 3 monthly consecutive intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (0.5 mg/0.05 ml) then repeated every two months.
Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between BCVA and photoreceptor integrity, central thickness and PED width in group A, whereas group B showed a statistically significant positive correlation between BCVA and CNV and external limiting membrane (ELM) (r=0.493 P=0.020 and r=0.644 P<0.001, respectively.
Conclusion: Several parameters on SDOCT images showed prognostic value for VA outcome before and after treatment in nAMD patients. A larger, prospective sample will be crucial for defining the relative importance of these parameters.