Early Real-World Outcomes of Switching to 8 mg Aflibercept for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the United Kingdom
(1) Aim: To evaluate early real-world outcomes of switching to aflibercept 8 mg in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in the United Kingdom. (2) Methods: This retrospective, observational study included 59 eyes from 50 patients with treatment-refractory nAMD previously treated with multiple anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. Eyes were switched to aflibercept 8 mg without loading doses and treated using a treat-and-extend regimen. Functional, anatomical, and safety outcomes were evaluated over a mean (SD) follow-up of 33.5 (10.4) weeks. (3) Results: The mean (SD) age was 80.2 (6.3) years, and 28 (56.0%) of 50 patients were male. At baseline, the mean (SD) best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 66.0 (14.4) letters, with 33 (55.9%) eyes achieving ≥70 letters. The mean (SD) baseline central subfield thickness (CST) was 367.2 (100.7) µm. Prior to switching to aflibercept 8 mg, the mean (SD) number of injections for each eye was 26.9 (19.0), with the most recent mean (SD) treatment interval of 7.7 (1.7) weeks. Switching to aflibercept 8 mg resulted in extension of the mean (SD) injection interval from 7.7 (1.7) weeks to 8.7 (2.2) weeks (<i>p</i> < 0.01). BCVA and CST remained stable, with a significant reduction in pigment epithelial detachment (PED) height (232.5 µm to 211.6 µm, <i>p</i> < 0.01). No serious ocular adverse events or intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations requiring treatment were reported. (4) Conclusion: Aflibercept 8 mg demonstrated early treatment durability, anatomical benefit, and a favourable short-term safety profile in eyes with treatment-refractory nAMD. Further prospective studies are warranted.
Authors
- Matthew Azzopardi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8571-2503)
- Andrew D. Needham
- Fozia Latif
- M. Musadiq
- Yu Jeat Chong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8798-066X)
- Noa Gilead
- Benjamin Ng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4296-2948)
Institutions
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Kaplan Medical Center (IL)
- University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (GB)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Life
- Published
- 2025-06-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/life15060903
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Retinal Diseases and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 11.95