Long-term Management in Retinal Vascular Diseases

In the final episode, “Long-term Management in Retinal Vascular Diseases,” the panelists explored how treatment durability, injection burden, and patient adherence influence long-term disease management for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). The discussion focuses on how extended dosing intervals with next-generation anti-VEGF therapies may help reduce treatment burden while improving disease control and long-term patient outcomes in real-world practice.

The expert faculty discuss how durable therapies can provide greater confidence that patients will maintain disease control between visits, particularly in chronic retinal vascular diseases where missed injections may contribute to irreversible vision loss. The panel highlights that reducing injection frequency from monthly or bimonthly visits to treatment intervals of 3, 4, or even 5 months may significantly improve patient adherence and overall treatment persistence.

Throughout the conversation, the panel emphasizes that durability, adherence, and disease control are closely interconnected. The expert faculty explain that more durable therapies may allow clinicians to better individualize care, reduce clinic burden, and minimize the logistical challenges patients face with frequent appointments and injections. The discussion also reinforces the importance of second-generation anti-VEGF therapies in helping retina specialists optimize long-term outcomes while reducing the overall burden associated with chronic treatment.

The panel concludes by emphasizing that durable retinal vascular disease therapies may ultimately improve both patient experience and real-world visual outcomes by helping patients remain adherent to long-term treatment plans. Thank you for watching this AJMC series on retinal vascular diseases. Please subscribe to our newsletter for information on upcoming video series.