Ranibizumab versus Verteporfin for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Previous studies have implicated intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) as a target for countering neovascularization and, therefore, age-related macular degeneration. This double-blind, controlled trial comparing ranibizumab, which neutralizes all isoforms of VEGF-A, with photodynamic therapy with verteporfin showed that ranibizumab was better able to retard the progression of predominantly classic neovascular age-related macular degeneration. This trial comparing ranibizumab with photodynamic therapy with verteporfin showed that ranibizumab was better able to retard the progression of predominantly classic neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of severe and irreversible vision loss in the developed world among people 50 years of age or older. 1 – 4 The neovascular form of the disease is characterized by the growth of abnormal, choroidal blood vessels beneath the macula, which causes severe loss of vision. 5 Two main patterns of choroidal neovascularization that are associated with age-related macular degeneration, as seen on fluorescein angiography, are classic (in which intensely bright fluorescence is seen in early phases of the angiogram and leaks in late phases) and occult (in which leakage is less intense and appears in . . .