Materials and Methods: A file review was performed for all consecutive patients with newly diagnosed exudative age-related macular degeneration and initial VA of ≥8/10 treated in 2009 to 2013 and followed for at least 6 months. Treatment consisted of 3 loading doses of intravitreal ranibizumab every 4 weeks and was repeated when decrease in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) or increase in central macular thickness (CMT) was present.

Results: Mean follow-up was 16.1±11.6 months (6-38). Mean BCVA was 46.2±3.0 letters (45-55 letters) in ETDRS chart preoperatively, whereas it was 49.3±4.7 letters (45-55 letters) in the last follow-up visit (p=0.018). Stabilization in BCVA was achieved in 53.6% of the study eyes, however the mean of 3.4 letters of increase in ETDRS chart was gained in 42.9% of the study eyes. Mean CMT was 352.1±127.3 μm (185-733 μm) preoperatively, whereas it was 289.9±70.1 μm (159-410 μm) in the last follow-up visit (p=0.007). Treatment was started approximately 1 month after the initial symptoms of exudative AMD in patients whose BCVA stabilized with 3 intravitreal ranibizumab injections, however treatment had been started 5 months after the initial symptoms on average in patients who required additional intravitreal ranibizumab application.

Conclusion: Prompt intravitreal ranibizumab treatment for newly diagnosed AMD in patients with good initial BCVA is associated with sustained or improved vision and a good safety profile. Keywords : AMD, ranibizumab, visual acuity