Ocriplasmin closes macular holes

Intravitreal injection of ocriplasmin resolves vitremacular traction and closes macular holes.

A new study, conducted by Dr Peter Stalmans and his team, involved two multicentre, randomized, double-blind, phase three clinical trials comparing 464 eyes administered with a single injection of ocriplasmin compared with a placebo injection in 188 eyes with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion.

The primary endpoint was resolution of vitreomacular adhesion at day 28 and secondary endpoints were total posterior vitreous detachment and nonsurgical closure of a macular hole at 28 days, avoidance of vitrectomy and change in best-corrected visual acuity.

The non-surgical closure of macular holes was achieved n 40.6% of ocriplasmin-treated eyes, compared to 10.6% of the placebo group. BCVA improved by a gain of at least three lines in ocriplasmin, compared to the placebo group.

Dr Julia Haller, Ophthalmologist-in-chief for the Will Eye Institute, commented, " highlights data showing ocriplasmin’s potential to become the first pharmacological option for the treatment of symptomatic VMA and macular holes. An in-office injection would be a new and possibly earlier alternative treatment for the vitreoretinal surgeon to offer to patients with these sight threatening disorders. Ocriplasmin represents a potential new treatment paradigm for the retina community and for our patients with VMA and macular holes.”