Tips for Following Patients with Geographic Atrophy (GA)

Speaker: Retina Specialist at the I Clinic of Wisconsin

Key Points

1. Visual Acuity vs. Visual Function

   • Visual acuity does not equate to visual function.
   • Significant disease progression can occur before a decrease in visual acuity is noticed.
   • Utilize ancillary imaging tools like OCT and fundus fluorescence to track patients.

2. Location of Lesions

   • Non-subfoveal lesions are more aggressive and spread more rapidly than subfoveal lesions.
   • The location of lesions can influence follow-up schedules and treatment plans.

3. Status of the Fellow Eye

   • The condition of the fellow eye impacts treatment motivation and compliance.
   • Important for both the patient and the treating physician to consider.

4. Setting Appropriate Expectations for Treatment

   • GA treatments will not improve vision but slow disease progression.
   • Use the analogy of jumping out of an airplane: GA treatments are like deploying a parachute, slowing the fall rather than stopping it.

Rationale for Offering GA Treatments

• Unmet Need: There's a significant unmet need in treating GA.
• Hope and Science: Treatments represent hope as much as they do scientific advancement.
• Split Among Retina Specialists: Not all specialists offer GA treatments, but the speaker does due to the above reasons.