ADDITIONAL ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY FOR EYES WITH A RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIAL TEAR AFTER THE INITIAL THERAPY

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of additional anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for eyes with a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear after anti-VEGF therapy and treated with additional anti-VEGF injections for recurrent or persistent exudative change. Patients and Methods: Ten eyes (10 patients) followed up for > 12 months after a recurrent RPE tear were evaluated retrospectively. The RPE tears on fundus autofluorescence images were measured and changes in the best-corrected visual acuity were evaluated. Results: Patients were followed up for > 12 months (mean, 27.3; range, 13-44 months). During 12 months of follow-up, additional anti-VEGF injections (mean, 3.3; range, 1-7) were administered. The mean size of the RPE tear at the onset was 6.5 mm(2) (range, 1.3-16.3 mm(2)). At 12 months, the RPE tear increased in size >20% in 5 eyes and remained unchanged or decreased in the remaining half of eyes. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity was 0.43 at the time the RPE tear developed and 0.85 at 12 months. The RPE tear grade and age were prognostic factors for best-corrected visual acuity at 12 months. Conclusion: Under continued anti-VEGF therapy, RPE tears may be stable in size and visual acuity could be maintained in some eyes; however, the visual acuity prognosis is still unsatisfactory in nonresponsive eyes.