Densitometric analysis of cornea in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration after intravitreal aflibercept loading dose.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the anatomic changes in the cornea and anterior segment following intravitreal aflibercept loading dose for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

METHODS

The study included 40 eyes of 40 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Each patient underwent a loading dose of one injection per month for three consecutive doses of aflibercept (0.05 ml/2 mg). Before and after the loading dose, a record was made for each patient of corneal topography, anterior segment, corneal densitometry, and lens densitometry parameters with the Pentacam HR and specular microscopy parameters with a non-contact specular microscope. The data before and after the aflibercept loading dose were compared.

RESULTS

Corneal densitometry parameters in the 0- to 2-mm and 2- to 6-mm concentric zones of the posterior layer were significantly higher after the loading dose compared with baseline ( = 0.03,  = 0.04, respectively). Corneal densitometry parameters of the anterior, central, and total corneal layer in the 10- to 12-mm concentric zone were also significantly higher after the loading dose compared with baseline ( = 0.009,  = 0.02, and  = 0.007, respectively). No significant changes were determined in respect of corneal topography, anterior segment, lens densitometry, and specular microscopy parameters ( > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

The aflibercept loading dose caused slightly increased densitometric values in some corneal regions while it did not affect the corneal topography, anterior segment, lens densitometry, and specular microscopy parameters.