Abstract
Purpose: :
Anti- VEGF agents have revolutionised the treatment of wet macular degeneration. The clinical trials claim stabilisation of visual acuity and prevention of severe visual loss following treatment with intravitreal Ranibizumab.The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Ranibizumab with regards to stabilisation of visual acuity.
Methods: :
We retrospectively evaluated 1150 case notes of patients currently undergoing intra vitreal Ranibizumab treatment for wet macular degeneration since August 2007, recording lesion type, pre and post treatment (12 and 24 months) Log MAR visual acuity, total number of injections, complications.
Results: :
Out of 1150 patients, 442 patients completed 12 months follow up while 87 patients completed 24 months follow up. Occult/minimal classic lesions were present in 64% patients; predominantly classic 18.5%, retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) 17.5%. On an average, 6.86 injections were given in 12 months and 9.27 injections in 24 months. Number of patients who had lost fewer than 15 Log MAR letters from baseline were 420 (95.1%) and 81 (93.2%) at the end of 12 and 24 months respectively. Mean visual acuity pre treatment was 53.34 +15.48 letters; while it was 58.84 +15.83 at 12 months and 57.55 +17.29 letters at 24 months
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal Ranibizumab has helped to stabilise visual acuity in our cohort of patients in keeping with the results of the Anchor and Marina clinical trial results.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • vascular endothelial growth factor • choroid: neovascularization