Table 1. Prioritization of 17 Highly Important Clinical Questions Associated With the Management of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
| Clinical Questions Scored as Highly Important by the AAO Retina/Vitreous Panel | ASRS | ACRC and Macula 2017 | MD Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Are intravitreous injections of anti-VEGF agents effective treatments for neovascular AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Is aflibercept effective for the treatment of AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Is aflibercept safe for the treatment of AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Is bevacizumab effective for the treatment of AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Is bevacizumab safe for the treatment of AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Is ranibizumab effective for the treatment of AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Is ranibizumab safe for the treatment of AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Are intravitreous injections of anti-VEGF agents effective as a primary treatment for AMD with juxtafoveal lesions? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Are anti-VEGF agents safe to inject during pregnancy? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Are antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements an effective treatment for intermediate AMD? | Not high priority | High priority | High priority |
| Are antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements an effective treatment for advanced AMD in only 1 eye? | Not high priority | Not high priority | High priority |
| Is long-term supplementation with high-dose antioxidants safe for the general patient with AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Is long-term supplementation with high-dose antioxidants safe for smokers with AMD? | Not high priority | Not high priority | High priority |
| Does smoking cessation prevent progression of AMD? | High priority | Not high priority | High priority |
| Is self-monitoring by patients at high-risk effective in preventing progression of advanced AMD? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
| Does avoiding sunlight after verteporfin photodynamic therapy prevent or reduce photosensitivity reactions? | Not high priority | Not high priority | High priority |
| Is surgery for cataracts in people with AMD safe? | High priority | High priority | High priority |
Abbreviations: AAO, American Academy of Ophthalmology; ACRC, Atlantic Coast Retina Conference; ASRS, American Society of Retina Specialists; MD, macular degeneration; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.