Comparison of intravitreal ranibizumab between phakic and pseudophakic neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients: Two-year results

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) between phakic and pseudophakic eyes after a follow-up of two years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were analyzed retrospectively. The newly diagnosed and treatment naïve nAMD patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into two subgroups: phakic group, and pseudophakic. All patients received 3 consecutive monthly IVR injections, and then the treatment was continued on an as-needed regimen. Patients were examined monthly, and the data at the baseline, at month 6, 12, 18, and 24 were evaluated. The changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), and the number of injections were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The study included 92 eyes of 87 patients (58 phakic, 34 pseudophakic). Mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (LogMAR) VA at the baseline, and at month 6, 12, 18, and 24 was 0.89, 0.74, 0.75, 0.73, and 0.75, in the phakic group; and 0.79, 0.71, 0.66, 0.70, and 0.70 in the pseudophakic group, respectively. The change in mean BCVA from the baseline to month 6, 12, 18, and 24 was not statistically different between the two groups (p = 0.4, p = 0.9, p = 0.5, p = 0.6, respectively). Mean injection number at month 24 was 7.9 and 8.1 in the phakic and pseudophakic group, respectively (p = 0.7). CONCLUSION: Intravitreal ranibizumab treatment on an as-needed treatment regimen is effective in preserving vision and improving central retinal thickness in both the phakic and pseudophakic group of nAMD patients. The functional and anatomical outcomes of the treatment, and the number of injections were similar in the phakic and pseudophakic nAMD patients after a follow-up time of 24 months.