Ranibizumab for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration associated with retinal pigment epithelial tear.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration associated with retinal pigment epithelial tear.

METHODS

In this retrospective case series, patients with active exudative age-related macular degeneration associated with retinal pigment epithelial tear were treated by repeated injections of intravitreal ranibizumab. The outcome measures were best-corrected visual acuity and the signs of lesion activity, as evaluated by optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography.

RESULTS

Twenty-one eyes of 20 patients were followed-up for a median of 12 months (range, 6-28 months). The median number of injections was 7 (range, 3-15). The best-corrected visual acuity improved in 6 eyes (28.57%), remained stable in 12 (57.14%), and decreased in 3 (14.28%). At the end of the follow-up time, 19 eyes (90.47%) had an inactive neovascular lesion in angiography, while 18 eyes (85.71%) had no signs of intraretinal or subretinal fluid.

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal ranibizumab was effective in improving or stabilizing vision and resulting in a quiescent lesion in the majority of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration associated with retinal pigment epithelial tear. The functional results were apparently better in eyes without foveal involvement by the retinal pigment epithelial tear.