Anti-VEGF therapies for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
Evaluation of: Martin DF, Maguire MG, Fine SL et al. Ranibizumab and bevacizumab for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration two-year results. Ophthalmology 119(7), 1388-1398 (2012). Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in European-derived populations. Recently, drugs have been developed that not only reduce the risk of vision loss, but can actually improve visual acuity. This article provides a summary of a recent comparative effectiveness trial evaluating two of these drugs. The study found that visual acuity outcomes were similar for the two drugs and that monthly dosing provided a slight advantage over as-needed treatment. The role of long-term differences in retinal thickening, geographic atrophy and potential differences in serious adverse events between the two drugs need further research.
Wake Forest School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology & Prevention, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. egower@wakehealth.edu.
Emily W
EW
Gower
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized