title: Ocular Risk Factors for Exudative AMD: A Novel Semiautomated Grading System.
abstract: Purpose. To evaluate the contribution of the ocular risk factors in the conversion of the fellow eye of patients with unilateral exudative AMD, using a novel semiautomated grading system. Materials and Methods. Single-center, retrospective study including 89 consecutive patients with unilateral exudative AMD and ≥3 years of followup. Baseline color fundus photographs were graded using an innovative grading software, RetmarkerAMD (Critical Health SA). Results. The follow-up period was 60.9 ± 31.3 months. The occurrence of CNV was confirmed in 42 eyes (47.2%). The cumulative incidence of CNV was 23.6% at 2 years, 33.7% at 3 years, 39.3% at 5 years, and 47.2% at 10 years, with a mean annual incidence of 12.0% (95% CI = 0.088-0.162). The absolute number of drusen in the central 1000 and 3000  μ m (P < 0.05) and the absolute number of drusen ≥125 µm in the central 3000 and 6000 µm (P < 0.05) proved to be significant risk factors for CNV. Conclusion. The use of quantitative variables in the determination of the OR of developing CNV allowed the establishment of significant risk factors for neovascularization. The long follow-up period and the innovative methodology reinforce the value of our results. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00801541.
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal ; Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: João Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Critical Health SA, 3045-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos Manta
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal ; Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal ; Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cachulo
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal ; Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal ; Faculty of Medicine, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Figueira
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal ; Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal ; Faculty of Medicine, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Rufino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Silva