Abstract
Purpose:
To evaluate the visual outcome after switching to aflibercept (2.0 mg) in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) that were previously required frequent re-treatment with ranibizumab (0.5 mg).
Methods:
A standardized dataset defined at the beginning of the anti-VEGF era was prospectively collected in real-time within an electronic medical record system (Medisoft®) in the context of paperless clinics on 181 eyes of 161 patients with nAMD that were switched to aflibercept due to persistent exudative changes. All eyes had received least 5 intravitreal injections of ranibizumab in a 6-month period after the loading phase of 3 monthly injections before switching. After switching all eyes were treated with an initial loading phase of 3 monthly aflibercept injections followed by bi-monthly injections.
Results:
The mean age was 78.9 ± 7.6 years. There were 74 males and 87 females. Best correct visual acuity (BCVA) at the point of switching to aflibercept was 59.1 ± 1.2 ETDRS letters. The mean BCVA at the switching was 59.4 ± 1.1 letters. The mean change in BCVA at 3 moths after aflibercept loading phase was -1.0 ± 2.4 letters (n=53), and was 0.5 ± 4.6 letters at 6-months follow-up (n=18).
Conclusions:
In a cohort of eyes requiring frequent ranibizumab to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration switching to aflibercept did not show any visual acuity benefits.