Better Visual Acuity Gains Observed in Patients with RVO in the Netherlands

New findings suggest retinal vein occlusion (RVO) treatment in the Netherlands had greater results with respect to the mean gain in visual acuity from baseline compared with the rest of the world, despite treatment beginning with bevacizumab.

Study investigators noted this may be due to more intensive therapy in this cohort.

“The number of injections differed significantly between the Netherlands and the rest of the world,” wrote study author Theodorus Leonardus Ponsioen, Department of Ophthalmology, Isala Zwolle.

The findings were presented at the Netherlands Ophthalmological Society Annual Congress.

The goal of the current study was to determine the results of 12-months follow-up data of retinal vein occlusions (RVO) treatment using an ICHOM-based quality registration, Save Sight Registry (SSR). The registry was formerly known as Fight Retinal Blindness!

Since 2019, the SSR has been used by multiple clinics in the Netherlands to register data of the treatment of patients with RVO with intraocular anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy (anti-VEGF) injections. Investigators noted the web-based system allowed for benchmarking between Dutch clinics, beginning with bevacizumab, and clinics outside the Netherlands, beginning with the registered drugs (aflibercept or ranibizumab) using the same registration.

At the 12 month mark, the mean visual acuity change from baseline was 17.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.8 - 24.3), for branch RVO (BRVO) patients and 18.6 (95% CI, 8.1 - 31.0) for central RVO (CRVO) patients in the Netherlands. In comparison, the result of the world saw a mean visual acuity change from baseline of 11.9 (95% CI, 10.0 - 13.8) for BRVO and 12.3 (95% CI, 8.6 - 16.0) for CRVO patients.

The median total number of injections was 12 injections for BRVO and 12 for CRVO in the first year in the Netherlands, while the rest of the world saw 7 injections for BRVO and 8 injections for CRVO.

“The results of the Netherlands with respect to mean gain in VA from baseline is better than in the rest of the world, despite the start of treatment with bevacizumab,” Ponsioen concluded. “This is perhaps the result of more intensive therapy.”

The study, “12 months follow-up of retinal vascular occlusions based on an FRB! Analysis,” was presented at the 2022 NOG Annual Congress.