Our experience in visual functions' improvement in patiens with “wet” age-related macular degeneration at switching from one anti-VEGF agent to another

Abstract

Purpose. To assess mean changes in visual acuity, central retinal thickness and macular volume as well as to determine the duration of clinical choroidal neovascularization inactivity after single aflibercept injection in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients switched from ranibizumab (preliminary date). Methods. Open-label prospective study. The study enrolled 23 patients with nAMD previously treated with ranibizumab.
 Results. Mean age of patients was 70.5 years, 16 were women. Mean number of ranibizumab injections given prior to switching to aflibercept was 8.7. After single aflibercept inravitreal injection mean visual acuity has significantly improved from 0.40 to 0.47 Snellen chart. Mean central retinal thickness has significantly reduced from 323.1 to 246.9 m and mean macular volume has significantly reduced from 7.71 to 6.74 mm3. Duration of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) inactivity was 2.91 months.
 Conclusion. Single aflibercept intravitreal injection has resulted in significant visual gain as well as in significant central retinal thickness (CRT) and macular volume reduction. This provides evidence of aflibecept efficacy in nAMD patients previously treated with anti-VEGF. Duration of CNV inactivity provides clinical data supporting aflibercept injection every 8 weeks in nAMD patients.