To the Editor: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD) is the most common cause of blindness in Australia.1 Current treatment to prevent further deterioration in vision, and an improvement in some, involves the antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents ranibizumab (Lucentis, listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme [PBS] since August 2007) or bevacizumab (Avastin, used off-label for NVAMD).2
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- 1. Lim JH, Wickremasinghe SS, Xie J, et al. Delay to treatment and visual outcomes in patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor for age-related macular degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol 2012; 153: 678-686, 686 e1-2.
- 2. Comparison of Age-related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials (CATT) Research Group, Martin DF, Maguire MG, et al. Ranibizumab and bevacizumab for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: two-year results. Ophthalmology 2012; 119: 1388-1398.
- 3. Wang JJ, Rochtchina E, Lee AJ, et al. Ten-year incidence and progression of age-related maculopathy: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmology 2007; 114: 92-98.
- 4. Krüger Falk M, Kemp H, Sorensen TL. Four-year treatment results of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with ranibizumab and causes for discontinuation of treatment. Am J Ophthalmol 2013; 155: 89-95.
- 5. Bloch SB, Larsen M, Munch IC. Incidence of legal blindness from age-related macular degeneration in Denmark: year 2000 to 2010. Am J Ophthalmol 2012; 153: 209-213.e2.
Robert Finger has received payment from Novartis for work on an expert statement on treatment of angioid streaks, and from Opthea for work on clinical trials design. Robyn Guymer has received a fellowship and payment for work on advisory boards from Novartis and Bayer, and a travel grant from Novartis.