EDITORIAL
Anti-VEGF for neovascular ARMD
Anti-VEGF for neovascular ARMD: visual improvement as the goal of therapy?
Correspondence to:
Silvia Bopp, MD, Augenklinik Universitaetsallee, Parkallee 301, D-28213 Bremen, Germany; s.bopp@retina.to
There has been dramatic progress in anti-VEGF therapy, but future guidelines are needed
Abbreviations: ARMD, age-related macular degeneration; PDT, photodynamic therapy; VA, visual acuity; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
In the era of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), a paradigm shift has emerged. Until then, photodynamic therapy (PDT) was considered a successful therapeutic option, basically slowing down visual deterioration compared with the natural course. A milestone in drug therapy for ARMD was the introduction of pegaptanib, the first anti-VEGF drug for ocular use. For the first time, in about 10% a visual improvement in ARMD was reported.1 Initial study data on treatment with ranibizumab showed that up to 40% of patients experienced a significant increase in visual acuity (VA) independent of the type of neovascular lesion.2 3 Long-term data up to 2 years have been published and demonstrated that the initial positive effect could be maintained by multiple, repeated injections.
When the impressive results of ranibizumab leaked out (albeit the drug was not available outside the studies), Philip Rosenfeld
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