Principles of anti-VEGF dosing in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic progressive disease regarded as a leading cause of vision impairment in elderly people in industrial countries. Neovascular AMD is characterized by an increased risk of severe vision loss. Intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF medication has become a standard of treatment of neovascular AMD. Clinical trials demonstrate that the use of anti-VEGF helps stabilize the vision in at least 90 % of patients, while 30 to 40 % gain three or more lines of vision (15 ETDRS letters). However, observational studies suggest that there are barriers diminishing the efficacy of anti-VEGF treatment in routine clinical practice. Finding an optimal dosing regimen for anti-VEGF therapy that could maintain treatment efficacy with a lower number of injections and fewer monitoring visits could be a solution. The review discusses the evidence base regarding anti-VEGF dosing principles and analyzes current dosing regimens with regard to their benefits and limitations.