@article {Mantel1192, author = {Irmela Mantel and Sophie-Alexia Niderprim and Christina Gianniou and Angeliki Deli and Aude Ambresin}, title = {Reducing the clinical burden of ranibizumab treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration using an individually planned regimen}, volume = {98}, number = {9}, pages = {1192--1196}, year = {2014}, doi = {10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-304556}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Aims The purpose of this study was to clinically validate an individually planned treatment regimen for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), termed, observe and plan. This regimen was based on the predictability of an individual{\textquoteright}s need for retreatment and aimed to reduce the clinical burden, while obtaining good functional results. Methods This was a prospective case series that included 104 patients (115 eyes) with treatment-naive nAMD. Following three loading doses of ranibizumab, monthly observation visits allowed the disease recurrence interval to be determined. The recurrence interval was reduced by 2 weeks to give the retreatment interval for the next three injections. Periodical control visits (at least every 6 months) allowed the effectiveness of the treatment to be assessed and individual intervals adjusted. Results Mean visual acuity (VA) improved by 8.7 and 9.8 letters in months 3 and 12, respectively. The mean number of injections during the 12-month study was 7.8, while the mean number of ophthalmic examinations between months 3 and 12 was 3.97. The mean treatment interval after the loading doses was 1.97 months. Conclusions The observe-and-plan regimen significantly improved VA. This was obtained with fewer clinic visits compared with other regimens, which could ease the burden of nAMD treatment. Trial registration number Commission cantonale (VD) d{\textquoteright}{\'e}thique de la recherch{\'e} Clinique, Universit{\'e} de Lausanne, Protocole 351/11.}, issn = {0007-1161}, URL = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/98/9/1192}, eprint = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/98/9/1192.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of Ophthalmology} }