Incidence of New Choroidal Neovascularization in Fellow Eyes of Patients Treated in the MARINA and ANCHOR Trials

PURPOSE: To explore whether monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections are associated with a lower rate of new choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in fellow eyes of patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration. DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials. METHODS: Incidence of new CNV in fellow eyes was calculated at 12 and 24 months from 2 clinical trials (the Minimally Classic/Occult Trial of the Anti-VEGF Antibody Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration [MARINA] study and the Anti-VEGF Antibody for the Treatment of Predominantly Classic Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration [ANCHOR] study), based on fluorescein angiographic reading center criteria and investigator evaluation. Patients treated with monthly ranibizumab (0.3 and 0.5 mg) were compared with those receiving a sham injection (MARINA) or photodynamic therapy (ANCHOR). RESULTS: In MARINA, new CNV developed in fellow eyes in 20.3% of the 0.3-mg ranibizumab group by 12 months and in 30.4% by 24 months. The conversion rate in the 0.5-mg ranibizumab group was 21.1% and 38.0% by 12 and 24 months, respectively. In the sham group, 26.4% converted by 12 months and 36.3% converted by 24 months. In ANCHOR, fellow eyes in 15.9% of the 0.3-mg ranibizumab group converted by 12 months and fellow eyes in 23.8% converted by 24 months. The conversion rate in the 0.5-mg ranibizumab group was 24.3% and 35.1% by 12 and 24 months, respectively. In the photodynamic therapy group, 25.4% converted by 12 months and 38.8% converted by 24 months. Differences in conversion rates at 12 and 24 months between the 0.3-mg or 0.5-mg ranibizumab groups and respective controls (sham or photodynamic therapy) were not statistically significant.