Early shift from ranibizumab to aflibercept for resistant pigment epitelial detachment in classical choroidal neovascularization

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of aflibercept in patients with suboptimal response to ranibizumab therapy in the early period. METHOD: Thirty-eight patients with wet type age related macular degeneration(W-AMD) were involved in this study. Eighteen patients with suboptimal response were shifted to 3 doses monthly intravitreal aflibercept therapy (IVA) and left 20 patients with suboptimal response went on 3 more monthly intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR). All changes were evaluated with fluorescein anigography (FA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). RESULTS: Preoperative mean visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) of patients were 0.84±0.47 logMAR and 360±84 ?m, respectively. One month after last IVR and IVA treatments, VA of patients were 1.1±0.34 (P=0.11) logMAR and 0.48±0.37 (P=0.019) logMAR and CMTs were 300±79 ?m (P=0.002) and 271±51 ?m (P=0.002), respectively. CONCLUSION: To eliminate repeated therapy for patients with suboptimal response to ranibizumab therapy, aflibercept might be a good alternative for early visual rehabilitation. Copyright 2017 by the IJO Press.