Visual and Anatomic Outcomes after Conversion to Aflibercept in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: 12-Month Results

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate 12-month outcomes of conversion to aflibercept in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration resistant to ranibizumab.

Methods

Twenty-two eyes of 19 consecutive patients received 3 monthly aflibercept injections followed by a pro re nata protocol. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were obtained before each injection. All 49 cross-sectional OCT B-scans obtained in each examination were investigated and the largest choroidal neovascularization (CNV) size was chosen. The same cross-sectional B-scan sections containing the maximum CNV size were used during the follow-up.

Results

After 12 months, best-corrected visual acuity increased from 45.68 ± 20.25 to 59.09 ± 17.50 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters (p<0.001), central subfield thickness decreased from 399.91 ± 148.85 to 304.55 ± 97.89 μm (p = 0.003), area of CNV declined from 0.38 ± 0.24 to 0.28 ± 0.19 mm² (p = 0.003), and macular volume improved from 9.64 ± 1.75 to 8.45 ± 0.98 mm³ (p<0.001). There was a significant resolution of intraretinal fluid (p = 0.016), but reduction of subretinal fluid was not significant (p = 0.25).

Conclusions

Visual and anatomic improvement were obtained after conversion to aflibercept.

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