RANIBIZUMAB IN PIGMENT EPITHELIAL TEARS SECONDARY TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

          Purpose:
          To assess efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab in retinal pigment epithelium tears secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
        
        
          Methods:
          The Ranibizumab In Pigment epithelial tears secondary to age-related macular degeneration (RIP) study is a prospective, single-arm, multicenter, investigator-initiated trial. Twenty four eyes of 24 patients with a retinal pigment epithelium tear secondary to age-related macular degeneration received monthly intravitreal injection of 0.5mg ranibizumab for 12 months, together with monthly assessments of morphologic and functional efficacy parameters. Primary outcome measure was mean best-corrected visual acuity at final visit compared with baseline.
        
        
          Results:
          
            Mean best-corrected visual acuity remained stable over the 12-month study period with 50.3 Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters (±18.7; Snellen equivalent 20/100) at baseline and 52.9 letters (±19.7; Snellen equivalent 20/100) at final visit (
            P
            = 0.39). One eye (4%) experienced a vision loss of ≥15 letters, and 2 eyes (8%) gained ≥15 letters. Mean central retinal thickness decreased from 571
            µ
            m (±185
            µ
            m) to 436
            µ
            m (±171
            µ
            m;
            P
            = 0.0001). Vision-related quality of life was stable with a mean VFQ-25 score of 79.0 (±10.8) at baseline and 74.3 (±13.9) at final visit (
            P
            = 0.12).
          
        
        
          Conclusion:
          In retinal pigment epithelium tears secondary to age-related macular degeneration, monthly intravitreal ranibizumab therapy results in stabilization of visual acuity over 12 months.