Italian real-life experience on the use of ocriplasmin

Objective To evaluate the success of an intravitreal injection of ocriplasmin to release symptomatic vitreomacular traction (VMT) and close a full-thickness macular hole. Methods and analysis An observational retrospective multicentre study conducted in Italy. Patients with symptomatic distortion and loss of vision secondary to VMT were included in the study. The patients received a single injection of ocriplasmin and were followed up for 1, 3 and 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and spectral domani OCT (SD-OCT) were performed for patient assessment, and adverse events were recorded and analysed. Results 74 patients (74 eyes) were included in the study. 44 of 74 eyes (59.5%) experienced complete release of the VMT. Macular hole closure was obtained in eight eyes (40%). BCVA improved about three lines after 3 months of follow-up in the patients with VMT resolution in comparison with the patients who did not have VMT resolution (p<0.0001). In 55/74 eyes of 55 patients (74.3%), no adverse events were reported, and most of them were transitory (17/19; 89.5%). The mean time to resolve VMT was 27.41 +/- 21.9 days. No cases of retinal tear, retinal detachment or lens destabilisation were observed. Conclusion Ocriplasmin is a potential alternative treatment for patients with symptomatic VMT and has a good safety profile. A more careful selection of patients, in clinical practice, may increase the success rate.