Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between visual function and patient quality of life (QoL) in nAMD patients undergoing anti-VEGF therapy, and to evaluate the utility of PROMs in routine clinical decision-making.
METHODS: A longitudinal observational study was conducted across two ophthalmology clinics in Bulgaria from January to July 2024. A total of 127 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) receiving aflibercept were enrolled. Validated PROMs instruments assessing mobility, self-care, daily activities, pain, anxiety, and general health (via VAS) were administered at baseline and follow-ups. Correlation analyses were performed between PROM scores, age, gender, therapy exposure (naïve vs non-naïve), and visual acuity outcomes (VOD/VOS).
RESULTS: Weak to moderate correlations were observed between age and declines in mobility (r=0.317) and daily activities (r=0.271). PROMs revealed significant differences between naïve and non-naïve patients in self-care (p=0.001), mobility (p=0.011), and anxiety (p=0.040). A strong negative correlation was found between mobility and VAS (r=-0.67), indicating that reduced mobility impacts patients’ overall health perception. Gender analysis suggested women reported greater impact on activities and emotional well-being, although not statistically significant. A positive correlation between the number of therapy applications and improved VAS (r=0.374) was noted.
CONCLUSIONS: PROMs integration into ophthalmology practice is feasible and yields clinically relevant insights. These measures capture meaningful aspects of patient experience that may not be reflected in clinical indicators alone. The findings support wider PROMs implementation in real-world AMD care to enable truly value-based decision-making.