Intravitreal ranibizumab injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration in phakic versus pseudophakic eyes.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injections for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration between phakic and pseudophakic eyes.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 110 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration receiving intravitreal ranibizumab therapy and categorized them into 2 subgroups: phakic group (75 eyes) and pseudophakic group (45 eyes). For all patients, the initial three loading injections were performed by month, and reinjection was performed as needed. Main outcome measures included best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness as assessed by optical coherence tomography.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 72 ± 4.2 years, and the patients were followed up for an average of 18 ± 3.6 months. At the last visit, the average number of injections was 3.87 ± 1.18 in the phakic group and 3.62 ± 1.17 in the pseudophakic group. After injection, the mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution of best-corrected visual acuity improved from 0.88 ± 0.65 to 0.75 ± 0.66 in the phakic group and from 0.86 ± 0.54 to 0.74 ± 0.09 in the pseudophakic group. Average central macular thickness decreased from 561 ± 289 μm to 419 ± 216 μm in the phakic group and from 559 ± 232 μm to 429 ± 166 μm in the pseudophakic group. There was no statistically significant difference in the injection number, best-corrected visual acuity improvement was achieved, and central macular thickness improvement was achieved between the phakic group and pseudophakic group.

CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect of intravitreal ranibizumab injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration did not show differences between phakic and pseudophakic eyes.