Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the effectiveness of intravitreal injections of ranibizumab (Lucentis) in treatment of wet form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: :
Study included 40 patients, aged 77±6.5 years, with wet AMD complicated by choroidal neovascularization (CNV). All patients received three intravitreal injections of ranibizumab 0.5 mg, once a month for three months. Patients were followed for 4-6 months, with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurements, slit-lamp eye exam, fundoscopy, Humphrey visual field (HVF) 10-2 test, stimulus size III (Carl Zeiss Ophthalmic Systems, Inc, Dublin, CA), Fourier-domain RTVeu optical coherent tomography (OCT; RT-100, Optovue Inc, Fremont, CA) to measure central retinal thickness (RT), and fluorescein angiography (FA) to follow with neovascular membrane. Mean BCVA was 0.1±0.206. Mean retinal thickness (RT) was 449±131 µm. Retinal sensitivity on the HVF was decreased by 20-22 dB in all patients.
Results: :
During this follow-up period, no inflammatory complications were observed. At 4-month time-point after the first injection, mean BCVA improved to 0.3±0.2 (p<0.05), RT reduced to 248±100 µm (p<0.05). HVF showed decrease of retinal sensitivity by 16-18 dB. FA showed partial regression of CNV in 28 patients (70%) and complete regression of CNV in 6 patients (15%).
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab is relatively safe, well-trolerated surgical procedure with low risk of postoperative complications and is an effective treatment of wet AMD, providing significant improvement of visual functions and partial or complete resolution of the macular edema and regression of choroidal neovascular membrane.
Keywords: retina • macula/fovea • neovascularization