Purpose:
To compare changes in visual acuity from baseline among patients treated with intravitreal injections of either Lucentis, Avastin or who switched from Lucentis to Avastin. Patients were treated with intravitreal Lucentis from 2006 to January 2010, at which time all patients in our study were switched to intravitreal Avastin.
Methods:
An analysis of all patients treated with intravitreal injections of Lucentis and Avastin who were monitored on an ongoing basis. Injections of either drug were given on a monthly basis. Sterile technique was used for the injections. Patients were retrospectively divided into 3 groups based upon diagnosis: age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion.
Results:
A total of 76 patients were included in this study. The average age of the patients was 71.8 years. A total of 518 injections were administered, including 316 Lucentis injections and 202 Avastin injections. Thirty-five patients (46%) were treated with intravitreal Lucentis only, 16 patients (21%) were treated with intravitreal Avastin only, and 25 patients (32.9%) were treated with intravitreal Lucentis and were then switched to intravitreal Avastin as of January, 2010. Among patients switched from Lucentis to Avastin for whom at least six months of acuity data were available for each drug, a statistically significant improvement (p=0.028) in logmar visual acuity was observed during the 6 months period following transition to Avastin. No complications occurred with either Lucentis or Avastin.
Conclusions:
Our study showed that the change from baseline in logmar visual acuity improved in the 6 months following transition from Lucentis to Avastin. This suggests treatment with intravitreal Avastin is safe and effective for age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema and retinal vein occlusion.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • vascular endothelial growth factor • macula/fovea