Intravitreal aflibercept versus intravitreal ranibizumab in patients with age-related macular degeneration: a comparative effectiveness study

Abstract

AIM: A hospital-wide, unselected switch of ranibizumab to aflibercept in treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) allowed us to compare the clinical effectiveness of these agents. METHOD: In a single-center before-after, observational study design new AMD-patients started with aflibercept treatment in 2013-2014 were compared with a control group of AMD-patients on ranibizumab before the switch. RESULTS: The mean difference in visual acuity (in logMAR units) after 1 year was comparable (+0.012 [aflibercept, n = 37] vs +0.17 [ranibizumab, n = 30], p = 0.154). However, the aflibercept-group did receive more intravitreal injections (5.8 vs 4.7 injections, p = 0.004) and were treated longer (265.7 vs 197.7 days; p = 0.011). CONCLUSION: With no difference in clinical effectiveness, longer treatment intervals for aflibercept should be investigated.