Bimonthly ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Background/purpose: Recently, aflibercept was proposed with a protocol of a bimonthly fixed regimen. Our purpose was to evaluate the results of this regimen in patients treated with ranibizumab.

Method: We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with naïve neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with a bimonthly fixed regimen of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab after 3 monthly injections. Examination was performed every 4 weeks for 52 weeks, with the possibility of unscheduled rescue injections of ranibizumab.

Results: A total of 27 patients, 24 women and 3 men, aged from 68 to 90 years (mean: 81.2) were analyzed; 25 eyes (92.5%) lost <15 letters. Mean BCVA rose from 58.3 (range ± 12.9) to 66.7 (range ± 14.3) letters. The mean visual gain was 8.40 (range ± 13.2) letters; 11 patients (40.7%) gained ≥ 15 letters. The mean number of injections of ranibizumab was 8.77.

Conclusion: Bimonthly intravitreal ranibizumab achieved satisfactory visual results. However, patients who required additional injections did not experience significant visual gain.