Morphological and functional analysis of the loading regimen with intravitreal ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration

AimTo quantify and correlate the morphological and functional effects of the recommended loading regimen with intravitreal ranibizumab in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsIn a prospective, interventional clinical trial, 29 consecutive patients (29 eyes) with choroidal neovascularisation secondary to AMD received three initial monthly intravitreal injections of ranibizumab. During this loading regimen, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and microperimetry (MP) testing, as well as optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography (FA), were performed using a standardised protocol and the results correlated.ResultsSignificant morphological and functional therapeutic effects were observed as early as 1 week following the first treatment. Throughout the loading-dose period, central retinal thickness, including intraretinal cysts and subretinal fluid, decreased fast and significantly (p