Ewa Wasiluk1, Malgorzata Wojnar2, Iwona Obuchowska2, Zofia Mariak2. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, The Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital, 24a Sklodowskiej-Curie Street, Bialystok, Poland. ewa.zukowska@yahoo.pl. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, The Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital, 24a Sklodowskiej-Curie Street, Bialystok, Poland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To analyze the long-term outcomes and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab injections in myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: A retrospective non-randomized analysis of consecutive cases included 17 eyes from 17 patients with subfoveal myopic CNV, treated with intravitreal ranibizumab with at least 30-month follow-up. The patients received three injections monthly, followed by pro re nata regimen. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were carried out at the baseline and at monthly intervals thereafter. RESULTS: Mean follow-up period was 51 months (range 30-98 months). In 12 patients (70.6%), BCVA improved by at least 1 Snellen line, with at least 3-line improvement observed in the case of 8 eyes (47%). Mean central foveal thickness (CFT) decreased from 384.65 ± 103.3 µm at the baseline to 264 ± 86.2 µm at the last follow-up examination (p < 0.001). The final OCT examination revealed 59% (10/17) eyes with CNV-related macular atrophy. Mean number of injections over the follow-up period was 4.82 ± 2.04 per person. Nine patients (53%) required re-injection of the anti-VEGF agent; the mean number of re-injections in this group was 3.44 ± 1.34 per person (range 2-6). No significant adverse events were recorded during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal ranibizumab is an effective and safe treatment for CNV secondary to pathologic myopia, contributing to long-term vision improvement and CFT reduction.
PURPOSE: To analyze the long-term outcomes and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab injections in myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV). METHODS: A retrospective non-randomized analysis of consecutive cases included 17 eyes from 17 patients with subfoveal myopic CNV, treated with intravitreal ranibizumab with at least 30-month follow-up. The patients received three injections monthly, followed by pro re nata regimen. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement, optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were carried out at the baseline and at monthly intervals thereafter. RESULTS: Mean follow-up period was 51 months (range 30-98 months). In 12 patients (70.6%), BCVA improved by at least 1 Snellen line, with at least 3-line improvement observed in the case of 8 eyes (47%). Mean central foveal thickness (CFT) decreased from 384.65 ± 103.3 µm at the baseline to 264 ± 86.2 µm at the last follow-up examination (p < 0.001). The final OCT examination revealed 59% (10/17) eyes with CNV-related macular atrophy. Mean number of injections over the follow-up period was 4.82 ± 2.04 per person. Nine patients (53%) required re-injection of the anti-VEGF agent; the mean number of re-injections in this group was 3.44 ± 1.34 per person (range 2-6). No significant adverse events were recorded during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal ranibizumab is an effective and safe treatment for CNV secondary to pathologic myopia, contributing to long-term vision improvement and CFT reduction.