EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF ANTI-VEGF TREATMENT ON SUBRETINAL FLUID IN THE WET FORM OF MACULAR DEGENERATION

Abstract

Introduction. AMD is a progressive disease that can lead to changes and obstruction of the central vision. The neurodegenerative process starts at the level of the Burch membrane/choriocapillaris and a complex of photoreceptors/and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Agerelated macular degeneration (ARMD) in the United States and industrialized countries is a major cause of blindness in individuals aged 55 years and older. Degenerative changes affect the macula lutea (yellow dot) in the center of the retina. The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks AMD among the leading ophthalmic causes of blindness globally, and the third most common cause of legal blindness in 8.7% of the population in industrialized countries. In 2020, the number of patients with ARMD increased from 3 to 6 million, while by 2050, an increase of 17.8 million cases of senile macular degeneration is projected. Wet-exudative AMD covers 10-15% of patients with ARMD and is at high risk of severe impairment and/or loss of visual function. Neovascular ARMD is characterized by the appearance of a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) and a secondary finding of pigment epithelium detachment (RPE rip), i.e., its tractional dehiscence or macular disciform scar. Common features of all exudative, wet forms of AMD are: 1. Leakage of fluid and serum components as a result of impaired blood-ocular barrier, 2. Intraretinal and subretinal fluid (IRF, SRF), 3. Lipid or (solid) exudates, 4. Subretinal hyperreflective material (SHRM)