• Marc Biarnés, Jordi Monés, Joan R Villalbí, and Lluís Arias.
• Macula and Retina Institute, Teknon Medical Center, Barcelona, Spain. biarnes@oo.upc.edu
• Eur J Ophthalmol. 2011 May 1; 21 (3): 282-9.

PurposeTo describe the results obtained in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with ranibizumab 0.5 mg on an as-needed basis from the start after 1 year of follow-up.MethodsRetrospective, consecutive interventional case series of patients with all angiographic types of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (mean baseline size, 3.4 disk areas) in a tertiary retinal center (Institut de la Màcula i la Retina; Barcelona, Spain). Main outcome was mean vision change; secondary outcomes were center retinal thickness change, number of injections, adverse events, and independent covariates associated with a good response.ResultsMean visual acuity change was an increase of 1.3 letters (95% confidence interval -2.7 to +5.3), and difference between angiographic patterns did not reach statistical significance (p=0.30). A decrease in retinal thickness of 44.6 µm was identified (p<0.001), with a median of 3 injections. Absence of baseline arterial hypertension, lower visual acuity, and lesions located outside the fovea were associated with a better response to therapy.ConclusionsAs-needed treatment from the start achieved stabilization of visual acuity and a moderate decrease of retinal thickness with a low number of injections, but did not achieve the same efficacy as regular monthly injections.

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