Vitreomacular adhesion in active and end-stage age-related macular degeneration

Am J Ophthalmol. 2009 Jul;148(1):79-82.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2009.01.014. Epub 2009 Mar 27.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate vitreomacular relations in different stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) without the influence of genetics and environmental factors.

Design: Retrospective, observational case series.

Methods: This was a multicenter study consisting of 29 previously untreated subjects with active exudative (wet) AMD in one eye and active nonexudative (dry) AMD in the fellow eye who were compared with 10 previously untreated subjects with end-stage geographic atrophy in one eye and an end-stage fibrotic (disciform) scar in the fellow eye. All subjects were studied with ultrasonography to identify the presence of posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and by optical coherence tomography to detect vitreomacular adhesion (VMA).

Results: The incidence of PVD in eyes with nonexudative AMD was 20 (69%) of 29, compared with 6 (21%) of 29 with active exudative AMD (P = .002). VMA was present in 11 (38%) of 29 of eyes with exudative AMD and in only 3 (10%) of 29 eyes with nonexudative AMD (P = .008). The incidence of PVD in geographic atrophy was 7 (70%) of 10, compared with 4 (40%) of 10 with disciform scar (P = .44). VMA was present in 2 (20%) of 10 eyes with disciform scars and in 0 (0%) of 10 eyes with geographic atrophy (P = .48).

Conclusions: PVD may protect against exudative AMD, whereas VMA may promote exudative AMD. This phenomenon is not evident in end-stage disease because of an increased incidence of PVD and a decreased incidence of VMA in eyes with disciform scars. Genetic and environmental factors do not seem to influence these observations.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Choroidal Neovascularization / etiology
  • Exudates and Transudates
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Macula Lutea / diagnostic imaging
  • Macula Lutea / pathology*
  • Macular Degeneration / complications*
  • Macular Degeneration / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Retinal Degeneration / complications
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tissue Adhesions
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Ultrasonography
  • Vitreous Body / diagnostic imaging
  • Vitreous Body / pathology*
  • Vitreous Detachment / diagnostic imaging
  • Vitreous Detachment / etiology*