The Effectiveness of Intravitreal Aflibercept in the Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Authors: Burak S* and Sevil AY

Volume 4, Issue 1

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of intravitreal aflibercept in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients followed in our clinic. Method: The examination file and optical coherence tomography (OCT) datas were investigated retrospectively. Patients divided into two groups according to previous therapies: patients received treatment before aflibercept (Group1) and started treatment with aflibercept (Group2). In Group2, patients were treated with pro-re-nata (PRN) regimen after 3 loading doses monthly. In Group1 patients were treated directly with PRN regimen after switching to aflibercept. Results: 154 eyes of 116 patients were enrolled. Average age of the patients were 75,2. The average follow-up duration was 39,01 months.The differences between the groups were statistically insignificant according to the sex,laterality of the eye and the post-aflibercept therapies (p>0,05). The number of aflibercept injections in Group 2 was significantly higher than Group1 (p<0,05). VA changes both in the groups and between the groups were not significant in post-aflibercept and last visits,in comparison with the VA values before aflibercept injection (p>0,05). In Group1,central and average macular thickness in post-aflibercept and last visits were significantly thinner than pre-aflibercept visit (p<0,05). In Group2, the difference of central macular thickness values between pre and post-aflibercept visits was significant (p<0,05), however the difference between pre-aflibercept and last visits was not (p>0,05). In Group2, the average macular thickness values in both post-aflibercept and last visits were significantly thinner than the pre-aflibercept visit (p<0,05). Changes in macular thickness values between two groups were statistically insignificant (p>0,05). Conclusıon: In treatment of neovascular AMD,intravitreal aflibercept is an effective method to avoid VA loss and to heal macular morphology.

Keywords: Aflibercept; Neovascular; Age related macular degeneration; Intravitreal; AMD

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