Why carry out this study?

Although neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) affects approximately 15 million patients in Europe, few studies have evaluated patients’ views and experiences of living with the disease, which are closely associated with patient well-being and adherence to treatment.

To gain a deeper understanding of the emotions and experiences related to several aspects of the disease, this study used semi-structured interviews with patients receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment for nAMD from three clinics in Europe.

What was learned from the study?

Patients frequently mentioned feeling anxious and frightened prior to receiving their first injection, despite receiving reassurance from their doctors. These feelings abated for many, but not all, patients following further treatment; however, some patients were worried about having different doctors every appointment, and therefore different people performing the intraocular injections. Most patients who participated in the study maintained their appointments and did not consider stopping treatment.

Patients had diverse feelings and responses to the disease, indicating the need for a personalised approach to patient care. Patients learnt to deal with the consequences of nAMD and attributed difficulties with recreational and domestic activities to be typical of their age rather than disease state.

This study highlights the importance of the patient’s voice when considering patient care and management, and provides insights into the determinants of adherence, and the nature and timing of interventions that may be utilised to improve the experience of living with, and managing, nAMD.