Background: To assess whether the period between initial symptoms and therapy with ranibizumab in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) influences visual outcome after a follow-up of 12 months.
Methods: Fifty patients with CNV were retrospectively split into three groups depending on the duration of visual symptoms: group I: < 1 month, group II: 1-6 months, and group III: > 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were recorded at baseline, 2, 6, and 12 months. Patients received two initial intravitreal injections of 0.5 mg ranibizumab at baseline and reinjections as needed.
Results: The mean time span between initial symptoms and treatment was 66 ± 63 days. A longer duration of visual symptoms was significantly correlated with a lower BCVA at baseline, but also after 6 and 12 months.
Conclusions: Shorter duration of visual symptoms prior to treatment is associated with a better visual outcome.