Real-World Outcomes with Aflibercept 8 mg in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) or Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) – Retrospective Single-Center Data Analysis

INTRODUCTION: This work aims to evaluate real-world functional and anatomical outcomes following intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) treated under routine clinical conditions. We assessed functional and anatomical outcomes, treatment intervals, and subgroup effects by prior treatment status and sex over 12 months. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center, non-interventional study included adult patients with nAMD or DME treated with aflibercept 8 mg in routine clinical practice between February 2024 and May 2026. Primary outcomes were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA; logMAR) and central subfield retinal thickness (CST; µm) from baseline to 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Secondary analyses included subgroup comparisons according to treatment status (treatment-naïve vs. pretreated) and sex, as well as evaluation of injection frequency and treatment intervals. Moreover, therapies before switching to aflibercept 8 mg were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 113 patients (138 eyes) were included. Median BCVA remained stable in nAMD (0.398 logMAR) and DME (0.301 logMAR) throughout the 12-month follow-up (p > 0.025). Median CST decreased in both disease groups (nAMD: - 22.0 µm; DME: - 10.0 µm), with significant reductions observed at months 3 and 6 in nAMD and at month 6 in DME (p < 0.025). Treatment intervals increased significantly in both indications (p < 0.05). Subgroup analyses for nAMD showed no significant differences in sex, but significantly greater anatomical improvement in treatment-naïve eyes than in previously treated eyes. One case of mild sterile intraocular inflammation was observed and resolved without permanent visual impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that aflibercept 8 mg provides effective disease control with maintained visual outcomes and significant anatomical improvements in women and men with nAMD and DME, including a predominantly previously treated population, in routine clinical practice. Longer-term real-world studies are required to confirm durability of these findings.