Early Intensive Avastin Treatment Enhances Vision in Wet AMD
A real-world study from the Netherlands shows that starting patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on bevacizumab (Avastin) early and intensively leads to better long-term visual outcomes compared to those receiving ranibizumab or aflibercept.
📊 Study Design
- Data from the Fight Retinal Blindness! registry over 5 years.
- 1,473 eyes treated with bevacizumab in the Netherlands vs. 7,144 eyes treated elsewhere with ranibizumab or aflibercept.
- Participants were anti-VEGF naïve and had at least 6 months of follow-up.
✨ Key Results
Dutch patients gained an average of 2.3 additional letters on eye charts over 5 years compared to patients treated in similar countries.
Patients with worse baseline vision maintained their gain, while their counterparts experienced decline after 3 years.
🩺 Clinical Implications
This supports bevacizumab use as a cost-effective first-line treatment when administered early and frequently. It also addresses cost disparities, as bevacizumab is much cheaper than ranibizumab or aflibercept.
🌍 Broader Context
Although off-label for AMD in many countries, bevacizumab’s similar efficacy and safety have been demonstrated in multiple trials (e.g., CATT), spurring debate on its routine use for diabetic macular degeneration.