Ranibizumab treatment for choroidal neovascularization secondary to causes other than age-related macular degeneration with good baseline visual acuity.

PURPOSE: To report a retrospective series of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) patients treated with intravitreal ranibizumab with good baseline vision from causes other than age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 12 eyes of 12 patients with CNV secondary to non-AMD who received intravitreal ranibizumab injections. Patients with baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) above 20/63 were included in the study. All patients were followed up at least for 12 months. BCVA measurement, fundus examination, and OCT examination of the patients were performed at each visit. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus photo, fundus autofluorescence, and fundus fluorescein angiography examination of the eyes were obtained. Primary outcome measures were the changing in BCVA and central foveal thickness (CFT). Any ocular or systemic side-effects were recorded.

RESULTS: The ages of patients ranged from 17 to 60. Twelve patients were diagnosed with non-AMD associated CNV: myopia (n = 3), central serous chorioretinopathy (n = 3), idiopathic (n = 2), multifocal choroiditis (n = 2), punctate inner choroidopathy (n = 1), and photo toxicity (n = 1). The improvement in visual acuity was statistically significant (p = 0.001). In the 12-month visit, all eyes had improvement in visual acuity except two eyes. The reduction of the mean CFT was statistically significant (p = 0.001). The CFT of all patients decreased in the 12-month visit. There was no significant difference in comparison of the mean intraocular pressure (p = 0.790). The group received a total of 52 intravitreal injections. The mean number of intravitreal injections was 4.3 (ranged from 3-8).

CONCLUSION: Ranibizumab seems to be an effective and safe treatment option for CNVs secondary to non-AMD causes in patients with relatively good baseline BCVAs.