The effect of a specific vitamin supplement containing L-methylfolate (Ocufolin forte) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Background: Patients with nAMD often have pathologically elevated homocysteine (Hcy) and increased retinal venous pressure (RVP). We tested whether the administration of a specific vitamin preparation containing L-methylfolate (Ocufolin forte) as an addition to anti-VEGF therapy reduces these two risk factors and favorably influences the disease course. Methods: A total of 27 eyes/27 patients with intra- and subretinal fluid, Hcy above 12 ​μmol/L, RVP of at least 8 ​mm above the IOP, and an IOP between 10 and 20 ​mmHg were included in this study. All eyes received three injections of 0.05 ​ml aflibercept at one-month intervals as clinically indicated. Fifteen patients additionally received one capsule of Ocufolin forte per day (Ocufolin group, OG), and the other twelve patients served as a control group (control group, CG). The following factors were measured before therapy and four months later: blood Hcy, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intra-ocular pressure (IOP), RVP, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and optical coherence tomography - angiography (OCTA). Results: Hcy decreased on average by 5.58 ​μmol/L in the OG and by 0.57 ​μmol/L in the CG. The RVP decreased on average by 4.60 ​mmHg in the OG and by 0.75 ​mmHg in the CG. The difference between the two groups was significant for both parameters ( Conclusions: When Ocufolin forte was added to the standard therapy, RVP and Hcy were reduced to a significantly greater extent than without Ocufolin forte. In addition, Ocufolin had a positive influence on morphology and future treatment intervals with anti-VEGF therapy.