Ranibizumab for treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term outcomes after intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) injection in patients with neovascular agerelated macular degeneration. Methods: A review of data for consecutive patients who received intravitreal ranibizumab injection was conducted. The main outcome measures were mean visual acuity and central macular thickness at 3 months compared with those at baseline. Response to ranibizumab therapy was evaluated with particular attention to prior treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc.). Results: Mean baseline visual acuity of 231 eyes of 231 patients was 20/152, and 189 patients (81.8%) had undergone prior treatment, with 153 (65.4%) having received intravitreal bevacizurnab. Mean visual acuity at 3 months, available for 203 patients (88%), was 20/126 (P = 0.004). Mean visual acuity for 98 patients treated with bevacizurnab within 3 months before ranibizurnab injection was 20/100 at baseline and 20/98 at 3 months (P = 0.35). Mean baseline central macular thickness was 278 tkm for all patients and improved to 211 gm at 3 months (P < 0.001). Macular thickness decrease was noted irrespective of previous bevacizurnab therapy. Conclusion: Ranibizumab therapy was associated with significant improvements in mean visual acuity and central macular thickness for the group of all patients. Patients who had received bevacizurnab treatment within 3 months before initiating ranibizurnab treatment had stability of, but no improvement in, visual acuity.