Real study: Re-treatment evaluated on visual acuity for Lucentis in neovascular AMD.

Purpose: To assess the value of a monthly injection of Lucentis until stable visual acuity (VA) is obtained for three consecutive months without exudation in patients with neovascular age macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: Prospective, single-center, non-controlled trial including naïve AMD patients with neovascularization. An assessment of VA and a spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were performed at baseline and every month. Monthly injections of Lucentis were performed over three months. The monthly injections were then continued until three consecutive stable VA results were obtained with no signs of exudation.

Results: Fifteen out of the 21 patients included were anatomically good responders. A mean gain of +14Le (9) was obtained up to the point at which there was no exudation. There was no additional gain from this point until 3 consecutive stable VA results were obtained. During the PRN phase, an additional mean gain of +3.2Le (7.7) was obtained.

Conclusion: This initial VA-guided regimen with ranibizumab might prevent the slight decrease in VA observed during the first year of PRN studies.