title: Recommended Guidelines for Use of Intravitreal Aflibercept With a Treat-and-Extend Regimen for the Management of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Asia-Pacific Region: Report From a Consensus Panel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize recommendations for the use of intravitreal aflibercept with a treat-and-extend regimen to manage neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in the Asia-Pacific region. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies have improved the quality of life of patients with nAMD, a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment, the high treatment frequency recommended by current guidelines places a significant burden on patients and healthcare providers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recommended guidelines from a consensus panel.
  
  
  METHODS
  An expert panel formed a consensus on recommendations for use of intravitreal aflibercept as treatment of nAMD in the Asia-Pacific region.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 initial monthly doses, treatment interval could be extended by 4-week increments, to a maximum of 12 weeks, in patients with inactive disease. Conversely, in active disease, treatment intervals should be shortened, by 4 weeks, or to 4 weeks in cases of severe recurrence. Treatment could be ceased in patients with stable disease activity after 12 months of treatment at 12-week intervals, as a means to prevent over treatent and lifelong injections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These recommendations could potentially minimize the number of treatments while maintaining efficacy and improve compliance by reducing the number of clinic visits compared with existing recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Eye and Retina Surgeons, Singapore.|Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Biological Sciences - Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.|Istituto Europeo di Microchirurgia Oculare, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanzetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wai-Man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-May
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore.|Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore.|Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chui Ming Gemmy
authors.initials: CMG
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia; D032921:Consensus; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C533178:aflibercept; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
keywords: Asia; aflibercept; age-related macular degeneration; blindness; vascular endothelial growth factor