Time between Symptom Onset and Assessment in Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization

Vol. 224, No. 3, 2010

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Original Paper

Time between Symptom Onset and Assessment in Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization
Rainer Schalnus^a, Carsten H. Meyer^b, Claudia Kuhli-Hattenbach^a, Marc Lüchtenberg^a

^aDepartment of Ophthalmology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Main, and
^bDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2010;224:176-182 (DOI: 10.1159/000239236)

Key Words

Age-related macular degeneration
Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor
Choroidal neovascularization
Quality of life
Visual function
Visual loss
Ranibizumab

Abstract

Background: Therapy delay in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD) is associated with risk of visual deterioration. Methods: Retrospective cross section analysis including patients with NV-AMD who received fluorescein angiography (FA). The time elapsed from symptom onset to assessment was analysed in relation to different factors. Inclusion criteria were: age >50 years, symptom onset within 6 months before assessment, no previous AMD therapy, indication for vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor treatment. Results: Mean duration of symptoms was 2.272 ± 1.683 months (n = 220); percentiles 25, 50, 75 and 90 corresponded to 1, 2, 3 and 5.383 months. A significant increase (p = 0.033) in mean symptom duration was found between age groups 65-74, 75-84 and over 84 years. Privately insured persons (assessment 1.242 ± 1.060 months after symptom onset; n = 14) received FA 1.083 months earlier (p = 0.0089) than patients with a statutory health insurance (assessment 2.325 ± 1.661 months after symptom onset; n = 194). Conclusion: In order to avoid progressive visual deterioration in patients with NV-AMD earlier assessment of these individuals should be aimed for.

Author Contacts

Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Rainer Schalnus, MD
Department of Ophthalmology, Goethe University
Theodor-Stern-Kai 7
DE-60590 Frankfurt am Main (Germany)
Tel. +49 228 928 969 0, Fax +49 228 928 969 1, E-Mail schalnus@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Article Information

Received: March 4, 2009
Accepted after revision: April 2, 2009
Published online: September 17, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 31

Medline Abstract (ID 19776657)

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