CURRENT CONCEPTS AND MODALITIES FOR MONITORING THE FELLOW EYE IN NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION : An Expert Panel Consensus

Abstract

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration in one eye is a major risk factor for developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration in the fellow eye; effective monitoring is therefore critical. This review summarizes existing and developing methods to monitor the fellow eye of patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration and provides guidance for patients and clinicians.

Purpose:

The presence of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in one eye is a major risk factor for the development of disease in the fellow eye. Several methods exist to help physicians monitor the fellow eye, with new technologies becoming increasingly available.

Methods:

We provide an overview of modalities for nAMD monitoring, including advances in home-based options, and review their utility for fellow-eye monitoring, based on a review of the literature and a consensus of retinal experts.

Results:

Studies demonstrate the importance of early detection of nAMD in the fellow eye so that interventions can be made before significant vision loss occurs. A series of techniques exist for the early detection of nAMD including chart-based methods and imaging devices. The increased availability of home-based methods has presented an opportunity for patients to monitor their vision at home.

Conclusion:

Frequent monitoring of the fellow eye in patients with unilateral nAMD is of critical importance to prevent vision loss and maintain quality of life. Patients should be examined every 3 to 4 months from the time of choroidal neovascularization diagnosis and encouraged to monitor their vision at home using home-based technologies where available, to provide the best opportunity for early detection.