Abstract
Purpose :
To report visual outcomes in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) switched from treatment with ranibizumab to aflibercept.
Methods :
Data was collected prospectively using an electronic patient record system. Patients with nAMD with persistent fluid after a minimum of 5 ranibizumab injections in 6 months, in addition to 3 loading doses, were switched to aflibercept. Eyes were initially treated with a pro re nata regimen. After switching eyes had a loading phase of 3 aflibercept injections at monthly intervals and fixed injections initially at 2 month intervals followed by a treat and extend regimen, with an 18 month follow up.
Results :
Mean visual outcomes in 254 eyes. Prior to switching the visual acuity declined from a mean of 63.6 letters to 58.7 letters when switched. After 18 months of treatment with aflibercept the mean visual acuity was 55.3 letters. The mean annual rate of decline in vision with ranibizumab treatment was 3.3 letters and 2.3 letters after switching to aflibercept.
Conclusions :
In this well defined group of patients with nAMD non-rensponsive to ranibizumab switching to aflibercept did not improve vision but may reduce treatment burden.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.