Comparison of outcomes after switching treatment from intravitreal bevacizumab to ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

OBJECTIVE

To compare visual acuity and central retinal thickness in patients initially treated with bevacizumab (Avastin) and switched to ranibizumab (Lucentis) for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

DESIGN

A retrospective chart review.

PARTICIPANTS

This study included 87 eyes from 80 patients over the age of 65 with neovascular AMD.

METHODS

Patients were initially treated with bevacizumab injections every 6 weeks and then switched to ranibizumab every 4 weeks when it became publicly funded by the Ontario government. Outcomes include comparison of visual acuity and central retinal thickness after bevacizumab treatment, and after switching to ranibizumab.

RESULTS

Visual acuity improved significantly versus initial baseline values following a treatment course of 3 or more injections of bevacizumab (0.58 logMar, SD = 0.30 vs 0.73 logMar, SD = 0.41; p = 0.0007). Patients then showed a further significant improvement in visual acuity after switching and receiving a course of ranibizumab (0.51 logMar, SD = 0.32) (p = 0.0122). Mean central retinal thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography significantly decreased after a course of bevacizumab (p = 0.0158), and a further decrease was noted after a subsequent course of ranibizumab (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant improvement in visual acuity and central retinal thickness in patients with neovascular AMD initially treated with bevacizumab. When these patients were uniformly switched to ranibizumab there was a further significant improvement in visual acuity and a reduction of retinal thickness. It appears that ranibizumab can maintain, or improve the effect achieved after an initial course of bevacizumab.