COMPARISON OF RESOLUTION OF VITREOMACULAR TRACTION AFTER OCRIPLASMIN TREATMENT OR VITRECTOMY

Purpose: To compare the functional and morphologic outcome of patients with vitreomacular traction (VMT) treated with either ocriplasmin treatment or vitrectomy. Methods: Retrospective case series of patients treated with ocriplasmin or vitrectomy for VMT. Outcome measures: resolution of VMT, change in outer retinal thickness, integrity of ellipsoid zone, subretinal fluid formation, and best-corrected visual acuity 2 weeks and 4 months after treatment. Results: Fourteen eyes received ocriplasmin (Group 1). Vitreomacular traction resolved in 50% (Group 1a), and in 50%, it did not (Group 1b). Ten eyes underwent vitrectomy (Group 2). Vitreomacular traction resolved in 100%. Outer retinal thickness decreased significantly 2 weeks after treatment in Group 1 (P = 0.003) and in 1a (P = 0.018). Two weeks after treatment, Group 1a showed a disruption of the ellipsoid zone (P = 0.001) and subretinal fluid formation (P = 0.01) more often than 1b. Neither was observed 4 months after treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity decreased significantly in Groups 1 (P = 0.034) and 1a (P = 0.026). Conclusion: Most patients treated with ocriplasmin for VMT showed a transient reduction of best-corrected visual acuity, accumulation of subretinal fluid, and a loss of the ellipsoid zone after the resolution of VMT. Patients with surgical resolution of VMT did not show these findings. The advantage of a less-invasive intravitreal injection of ocriplasmin must be weighed against the lower success rate, the (transient) morphologic changes, and the uncertain visual benefit