Treat‐and‐extend versus every‐other‐month regimens with aflibercept in age‐related macular degeneration.

Abstract: Purpose: To compare the 1‐year outcomes of treat‐and‐extend (TAE) and every‐other‐month (2M) regimens with intravitreal aflibercept in Japanese wet age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) patients. Methods: Prospective, multicenter, randomized clinical trial. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of eyes in which the best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was maintained at week 52 [with a loss of <0.3 logarithm of minimum angular of resolution (logMAR) units]. The secondary outcome measures were the mean change from baseline in the central retinal thickness (CRT) and the number of injections. Results: Forty‐one patients were enrolled. The mean changes in the BCVA from baseline in the TAE and 2M were −0.32 ± 0.27 and −0.26 ± 0.30 logMAR units (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.46). The TAE group was noninferior to the 2M group in BCVA maintenance. The mean CRT changes from baseline in the TAE and 2M were −161 ± 133 and −157 ± 90 <italic>μ</italic>m (p<italic> </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.73). The mean number of injections in the TAE and 2M were 7.5 ± 1.2 (range, 7–12) and 8.0 ± 0.0 (p<italic> </italic><<italic> </italic>0.0001). Conclusion: Treat‐and‐extend (TAE) regimen with aflibercept improved the BCVA and CRT to the same extent as 2M regimen, with a reduced number of injections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]