title: Intravitreal injection of ranibizumab using a pro re nata regimen for age-related macular degeneration and vision-related quality of life.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess visual function and vision-related quality of life after intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) using a pro re nata regimen for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 54 eyes in 54 patients scheduled to undergo IVR for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration was performed. A self-administered, 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) was completed before and 3 and 12 months after the initial IVR treatment. We evaluated logMAR visual acuity and NEI VFQ-25 scores preoperatively and postoperatively. Further, associations between the changes in NEI VFQ-25 scores and patient characteristics were investigated at 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postoperative best-corrected visual acuity improved significantly when compared with the preoperative visual acuity throughout the 12-month period (P<0.05 at 3 and 12 months, respectively). On the other hand, IVR treatment significantly improved the postoperative NEI VFQ-25 mean composite score at both 3 and 12 months (P<0.05, respectively). Better visual acuity at 12 months was associated with a greater improvement in NEI VFQ-25 score at 12 months (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVR was well tolerated and improved vision in these patients with age-related macular degeneration, as evaluated at one-year follow-up examinations. IVR also enabled good subjective perception, as indicated by higher composite NEI VFQ-25 scores. Maintaining good visual acuity may be an important factor for improving vision-related quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamane
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kadonosono
keywords: age-related macular degeneration; intravitreal injection; ranibizumab; vascular endothelial growth factor; vision-related quality of life