THE MACULAR HOLE AFTER INTRAVITREAL INJECTIONS OF RANIBIZUMAB IN A PATIENT WITH EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION – A CASE STUDY

There are two forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the dry one and the exudative one. The exudative form of AMD can be treated using repeated intravitreal injections of antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the retina is a standard examination in monitoring patients treated with ranibizumab due to an exudative form of AMD.

VEGF plays a key role in the development of choroidal neovascularization in the exudative form of AMD.

The subject-matter of our observation was to present the development of the macular hole after treatment of the exudative form of AMD through repeated intravitreal injections of ranibizumab.

Ranibizumab is an antibody against VEGF. This substance is registered for the treatment of the exudative form of AMD. Ranibizumab may produce focal sites with traction forces on the surface of the retina during the contraction of the choroidal neovascular membrane. Both of these effects may cause contraction and delamination of the retina causing the macular hole to form.