Why carry out this study?

Evidence is growing that fluid in wet macular degeneration can have a different impact on vision depending on its location, but little is known how this is affected by other co-existing retinal changes.

In this study we used statistical modelling of retrospective data to determine the particular visual impact of subretinal fluid (SRF), notably with differing amounts of subretinal hyperreflective material (SRHM) and atrophy.

What was learned from the study?

We found that SRF of 150 µm or less has only minimal impact on vision whatever the levels of atrophy or SRHM.

With SRF greater than 150 µm, there is an increasing impact (as long as there is no associated SHRM or atrophy).

If there is increasing SRHM and atrophy, the impact of SRF is again reduced to zero.

These findings may be used to guide retreatment decisions aiming to optimise patient vision with minimum injections.