Review of Combination Therapies for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

While angiogenesis is one of the factors associated with the development of CNV due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), inflammation and oxidative stress also appear to play a role. Treatment of CNV with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy is currently the standard of care. However, not all patients respond to monotherapy, and combination therapy may target the CNV through multiple mechanisms, thus reducing treatment frequency or improving visual outcome. Photodynamic therapy (with regular or reduced fluence), as well as intravitreal steroids are used in combination with anti-VEGF therapy. This paper reviews the many clinical trials that have been performed utilizing several combinations of double and triple therapy. While combination therapy is biologically justifiable, further study is required to determine correct combinations and dosage.

Keywords::

• eye
• macular degeneration
• photodynamic therapy
• anti-vegf
• lucentis
• avastin
• ranibizumab
• bevacizumab
• retina
• combination therapy

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This manuscript was supported by Research to Prevent Blindness, New York, NY.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.