title: The significance of early treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration: 12 months' results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess whether the period between initial symptoms and therapy with ranibizumab in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) influences visual outcome after a follow-up of 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty patients with CNV were retrospectively split into three groups depending on the duration of visual symptoms: group I: < 1 month, group II: 1-6 months, and group III: > 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were recorded at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 months. Patients received two initial intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab at baseline and reinjections as needed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean time span between initial symptoms and treatment was 66 ± 63 days. A longer duration of visual symptoms was significantly correlated with a lower BCVA at baseline, but also after 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shorter duration of visual symptoms prior to treatment is associated with a better visual outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hietzing Hospital, Wolkersbergenstrasse 1, 1130 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weingessel
authors.forename: Gregor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hintermayer
authors.forename: Saskia M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Maca
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Pia Veronika
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Vecsei-Marlovits
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069579:Ranibizumab