Long-Term Treatment Outcomes in Type 3 Neovascularization: Focus on the Difference in Outcomes between Geographic Atrophy and Fibrotic Scarring
Jae Hui Kim, Jae Hui Kim, Jong Woo Kim, Jong Woo Kim, Chul Gu Kim, Dong Won Lee
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the difference in the long-term treatment outcomes of type 3 neovascularization between eyes with geographic atrophy and those with fibrotic scars. METHODS: This retrospective study included 195 eyes diagnosed with type 3 neovascularization and treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents. The included eyes were divided into three groups according to the fundus findings at the final visit: patients with fovea-involving geographic atrophy (GA group), patients with fovea-involving fibrotic scars (scar group), and patients with no fovea-involving geographic atrophy or fibrotic scars (non-GA/scar group). The best-corrected visual acuities (BCVA) of the three groups at the final visits were compared. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 47.5 ± 20.7 months. The mean logMAR BCVA at the final visit was 1.18 ± 0.58 in the GA group (n = 58), 1.67 ± 0.58 in the scar group (n = 62), and 0.69 ± 0.64 in the non-GA/scar group (n = 75). The BCVA was significantly worse in the scar group than in the GA (p < 0.001) and the non-GA/scar groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Eyes with fibrotic scars showed the poorest visual outcomes in type 3 neovascularization among the studied groups. Preventing the development of fibrotic scars should be considered an important treatment goal.