One-year real-life results on effect of intravitreal aflibercept in patients with diabetic macular oedema switched from ranibizumab

Abstract

Abstract

Purpose

To assess visual and optical coherence tomography–derived anatomical outcomes of treatment with intravitreal aflibercept (Eylea®) for diabetic macular oedema in patients switched from intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis®).

Design

Retrospective, cohort study.

Participants

Ninety eyes (of 67 patients) receiving intravitreal anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy were included.

Methods

This is a retrospective, real-life, cohort study. Each patient had visual acuity measurements and optical coherence tomography scans performed at baseline and 12 months after the first injection of aflibercept was given.

Main Outcome Measures

We measured visual acuities in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters, central foveal thickness and macular volume at baseline and at 12 months after the first aflibercept injection was given.

Results

Ninety switched eyes were included in this study. The mean (standard deviation) visual acuity was 63 (15.78) Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters. At baseline, the mean (standard deviation) central foveal thickness was 417.7 (158.4) μm and the mean macular volume was 9.96 (2.44) mm³. Mean change in visual acuity was +4 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters (p = 0.0053). The mean change in macular volume was −1.53 mm ³ in SW group (p = 0.21), while the change in central foveal thickness was −136.8 μm (p = 0.69).

Conclusion

There was a significant improvement in visual acuity and in anatomical outcomes in the switched group at 12 months after commencing treatment with aflibercept for diabetic macular oedema.