Efficacy of intravitreal injection of aflibercept in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes following intravitreal injection of aflibercept in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Background Neovascular AMD is considered a principal cause of visual impairment worldwide. It is associated with choroidal neovascularization, which causes exudation that affects vision. Early clinical trials showed that intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents is associated with significant improvement of visual outcomes in the majority of eyes. Aflibercept is an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent that recently gained approval for treating neovascular AMD. Patients and methods This prospective study conducted at Menoufia University Hospitals, included 60 eyes of 46 patients with treatment–naive neovascular AMD. The patients received 3monthly aflibercept intravitreal injections. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and intraocular pressure were measured at diagnosis and after each injection. Also, the patients were asked to fill the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire at baseline and at the end of the study. Results The mean BCVA improved from 0.061 (decimal fraction) to 0.081 after the third injection (P Conclusion Intravitreal aflibercept in neovascular AMD is associated with increased BCVA and reduced CMT. In addition, intravitreal aflibercept possibly has a benefit of improving the quality of vision-related functions.