A report on five-year outcomes of the Study of Comparative Treatments for Retinal Vein Occlusion 2 (SCORE2),1 shows treatment for retinal vein occlusion (RVO) with anti-VEGF yields long-lasting vision gains, with visual acuity remaining significantly above baseline at five years. The study shows RVO is a chronic disease, and underscores the importance of disease monitoring and individualised, ongoing treatment to achieve the best possible vision.
In 2017, SCORE2 clinical trial investigators reported that Avastin (bevacizumab) and Eylea (aflibercept) were equally effective at improving visual acuity in people with macular oedema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or hemi-retinal vein occlusion (HRVO). CRVO affects the entire retina, while HRVO generally affects about half of the retina. During the trial, both drugs were administered by injection once per month for six months. At the six-month mark, the vision of participants in both groups had, on average, improved over three lines on an eye chart.
Investigators following SCORE2 participants for five years, collected information about their visual acuity, treatments, and whether their macular oedema had resolved. At five years, many participants had lost some visual acuity when compared to their 12-month mark; however they retained, on average, three lines of improvement, compared to their acuity at the beginning of the study.
“It was surprising to us that despite many participants still needing treatment after five years, their visual acuity outcome remained very good,” said Dr Michael Ip, study co-chair. “In comparison to this treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration, where initial vision improvements fade over time, these results are quite favourable.”
Reference
- Scott IU, VanVeldhuisen PC, Oden NL, Ip MS, Blodi BA, for the SCORE2 Investigator Group. “Month 60 Outcomes after Treatment Initiation with Anti-VEGF Therapy for Macular Edema due to Central or Hemi-Retinal Vein Occlusion.” American Journal of Ophthalmology. April 21, 2022 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2022.04.001