EVALUATION OF SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES OF INTRAVITREAL AFLIBERCEPT INJECTIONS FOR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION USING FOCAL MACULAR ELECTRORETINOGRAPHY

To evaluate the relationship between morphological changes and functional improvements assessed using focal macular electroretinograms after intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) injections in eyes with wet age-related macular degeneration. The clinical records of 42 eyes of 42 consecutive patients with naive, wet age-related macular degeneration received 3 monthly IVA were reviewed. The best-corrected visual acuity, central foveal thickness, outer retinal thickness, inner retinal thickness at baseline and 1 month after each IVA, and focal macular electroretinograms at baseline and 1 month after the first and third IVA were compared. Best-corrected visual acuity was improved after the third IVA (P = 0.0091). Central foveal thickness and outer retinal thickness showed decreases after every IVA (P < 0.001, respectively). Inner retinal thickness showed a decrease after the second IVA (P = 0.002), after and third IVA (P = 0.001). On focal macular electroretinograms, a- and b-wave amplitudes showed increases after the third IVA (P = 0.0028, P = 0.0012, respectively). Significant correlations were observed between best-corrected visual acuity and central foveal thickness, a-wave amplitude and outer retinal thickness, and b-wave amplitude and inner retinal thickness changes after the third IVA. All parameters significantly recovered after three monthly IVA, with a correlation between functional improvements and morphological changes.