Westborg I, et al. - The authors discerned how patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with ranibizumab or bevacizumab responded to treatment in routine clinical practice. The visual acuity level was maintained via the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor intravitreal injections. It was discovered that approximately 20% and 40% of the patients required vision rehabilitation after 1 year and 2 years, respectively.

Methods

• Data was extracted from the Swedish Macula Register.
• Researchers examined the data with regard to the treatment received by 3,912 patients during 2011 to 2014.
• They analyzed the patients' characteristics at the first visit, visual acuity, number of injections, and reason for terminating the treatment if applicable.
• The risk of poor vision (visual acuity under 60 Early Treatment Diabetes Retinopathy Study letters or approximately 20/60 Snellen) was estimated for the treated eye after 1 year and 2 years.

Results

• The therapeutic outcome was based on the visual acuity at the first visit.
• The risk of having a visual acuity lower than 60 letters after 1 year or 2 years of treatment was found to be approximately 20%, for patients with visual acuity more than 60 letters.
• Nonetheless, in the case of patients with low visual acuity at diagnosis (fewer than 60 letters), the risk was determined to be approximately 60%.
• The risk of having a visual acuity lower than 60 letters was not based on the choice of treatment drug.