Real-life results in treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration with anti-VEGF therapy. Analysis of 122 patients from a single centre.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The prognosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has improved significantly since the advent of antiangiogenic treatments. However, several «real life¼ studies have shown lower number of injections and a markedly worse visual prognosis than pivotal clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of the treatment of neovascular AMD and analyse clinical factors related to the functional and structural prognosis in routine clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective, observational, single-centre study that included 143 eyes of 122 patients diagnosed with neovascular AMD between the years 2015 and 2016, who received treatment with antiangiogenic drugs and were followed up for two or more years. RESULTS: Visual acuity improved in 45% of patients after two years of treatment. The mean decrease in central macular thickness was 85 µm (p < 0.001) and the mean number of injections was 13. Retinal pigment epithelium rupture was present in 3.5%. Ranibizumab was the drug most used as a first option, although 79 patients (55.2%) required a change in treatment, most being switched to aflibercept. A greater number of visits (p < 0.001) and a lower number of injections (p < 0.01) were predictors of worse structural outcome. The number of visits was associated with better visual acuity (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The treatment has demonstrated its efficacy by improving visual acuity and central macular thickness. However, the number of injections performed has generally been higher than in other real-life studies.