INTRAVITREAL AFLIBERCEPT FOR CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION DUE TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION UNRESPONSIVE TO RANIBIZUMAB THERAPY

PURPOSE:: To assess the efficacy of intravitreal injection of aflibercept for treating choroidal neovascularization due to age-related macular degeneration unresponsive to ranibizumab. METHODS:: Prospective noncomparative study. Indication for conversion to aflibercept (2.0 mg) was a failed response to ranibizumab, defined as persistent or recurrent subretinal and/or intraretinal fluid on spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Best-corrected visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letter score), fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography were performed at baseline. Patients were followed up monthly, and retreatment was considered at physician discretion based on functional and morphological patterns. RESULTS:: Ninety-two eyes were included in the study. At 12 months, mean best-corrected visual acuity (±SD) change was +1.8 (±10.3), Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters and central retinal thickness (±SD) decreased on average by 112 (±173) μm. Patients received a mean of 3.5 ± 1.8 injections. No significant adverse event was observed during the follow-up. CONCLUSION:: A low number of intravitreal aflibercept injections reversed the preswitching trend toward losing vision and produced stable visual acuity and morphological improvements for up to 12 months in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, not responding to ranibizumab.