Treat-and-extend regimen in treatment of patients with type 3 neovascularisation
Reviewed by Su Young

Type 3 neovascularisation, also known as retinal angiomatous proliferation is a distinct subtype of neovascular AMD characterised by intraretinal neovascularisation. This retrospective study included 17 eyes diagnosed with type 3 neovascularisation who were changed from pro-re-nata (PRN) based treatment regime to treat and extend (TAE) regime. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurements were compared across the three time points: after the loading injection, after the PRN phase, and after the TAE phase. Following three monthly loading injections, the eyes were treated for 16.2 ±5.5 months using the PRN regimen with 5.1 ±1.5 anti-VEGF injections. After switching to the TAE regimen, 7.5 ±3.0 injections were administered over 20.5 ±8.2 months. The mean logMAR BCVA was 0.44 ±0.30 (Snellen equivalents = 20/55) after three loading injections, 0.58 ±0.32 (20/76) after the PRN phase, and 0.62 ±0.33 (20/83) after the TAE phase. The BCVA after the PRN phase was significantly deteriorated as compared to that after the three loading injections (P=.015), whereas the BCVA values were not different after the TAE and PRN phases (P=.342).The authors report that in type 3 neovascularisation, visual acuity was maintained for an average of 20.5 months after switching from the PRN regimen to the TAE regimen. They recommend that further studies with larger study populations and controlled study designs are required.

Results of switching from pro re nata to treat-and-extend regimen in treatment of patients with type 3 neovascularization.
Kim JH.
SEMINARS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
2020;35(1):33-4.