title: Geographic Atrophy and Activity of Neovascularization in Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between geographic atrophy (GA) and neovascular activity in retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) during anti-VEGF treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-one RAP eyes (74 patients) treated with anti-VEGF on an as-needed basis for at least 3 years were evaluated. Development of GA, area of GA, and injection numbers were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen eyes that developed fibrous scar or massive hemorrhage were excluded. Forty-four eyes (60%) developed GA (GA group), and 29 eyes (40%) did not develop GA (non-GA group) at year 3. The mean injection number continuously decreased in the GA group (5.1, 3.1, and 1.9 at years 1, 2, and 3, respectively, P < 0.01, < 0.01), but did not decrease at year 3 in the non-GA group (4.6, 3.5, and 3.3 at years 1, 2, and 3, respectively, P < 0.01, = 0.64). In both groups, best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly at year 1 and declined to baseline level at year 3. During the entire follow-up (mean of 48.5 months), 57 eyes developed GA. In those eyes, number of injections per year before and after the development of GA was 4.5 and 2.1 (P < 0.01), and showed continuous decline after GA development as the area of GA progressed at a rate of 1.85 mm2 per year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The activity of RAP lesion requiring anti-VEGF treatment diminished as GA developed and progressed. Identification of GA and its progression provides further information to tailor anti-VEGF treatment for each patient.
authors.forename: Jiwon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Jae Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jun Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Na Hyun
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity