Ranibizumab or Aflibercept for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Twelve-Month Outcomes of Therapeutic Program in Non-Tertiary Institution: A Comparative Study.

Abstract Purpose: This single center study aimed to compare the 12-month treatment outcomes of ranibizumab with that of aflibercept in routine clinical practice.Methods: Cohort of patients diagnosed with treatment-naïve neovascular AMD, treated using either ranibizumab (n = 33 eyes) or aflibercept (n = 44 eyes) monotherapy over a 12-month follow-up period was analyzed. Anonymous data were extracted from the electronic database dedicated to the drug program.Results: In the ranibizumab group, there were not statistically significant changes in BCVA (ETRDS letters) and CRT (µm), between baseline (67.9 ± 8.6 & 384.9 ± 97.9) and at 12 months (67.9 ± 12.1 & 398.9 ± 127.1; P = 0.372 & P = 0.884, respectively). In the aflibercept, there was an improvement in BCVA and reduction in CRT between baseline (64.2 ± 8.1 & 414.3 ± 97.8) and at 12 months (70.7 ± 7.4 & 342.3 ± 71.6; P <.001 & P <.001, respectively). There was no difference in BCVA between the two groups at either diagnosis (P= 0.101) or 12 months (P= 0.917). Mean number of injections in the ranibizumab group was significantly lower (4.9 ± 1.5) than in the aflibercept group (6.7 ± 1; P<.001).Conclusions: One initial injection of ranibizumab and then PRN regimen resulted in stabilization of disease progression. Drug selection and treatment scheme could influence twelve-months outcomes. In the aflibercept group, three initial monthly injections and then every two months provided both significant BCVA improvement and CRT reduction at 12 months of treatment.