Aflibercept in macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion: A real life study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the real life outcomes of intravitreal aflibercept (IVAfl) treatment in patients with macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO) during the first year of treatment. METHODS: Retrospective case series. Newly diagnosed or persistent ME patients secondary to RVO who were treated with IVAfl and had a follow-up period of at least 12 months were included. Twenty-two patients (54.8%) received 3 loading month loading doses IVAfl initially, whereas 20 patients (45.2%) did not receive. Then the patients were treated on an as-needed treatment regimen. Primary outcome measures of this study included the change in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT). Secondary outcome measures were the number of visits and injections. RESULTS: Forty-two eyes of 42 patients were included. Fourteen patients (33.3%) had central RVO, and 28 (66.7%) had branch RVO. Mean BCVA at baseline and month 12 was 0.98 ± 0.58 and 0.82 ± 0.65 LogMAR, respectively (p = 0.04). Mean CRT at baseline and month 12 was 511 ± 141 and 304 ± 95 μm, respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean number of visits was 5.9 ± 2.1 (range 3–11) and injections was 3.2 ± 1.7 (range 1–8) at month 12. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, IVAfl treatment seemed to be effective in patients with ME secondary to RVO with respect to visual and anatomical outcomes in real life. In this study the number of visits and injections was lower that randomized controlled trials, but the functional and anatomical outcomes are probably still acceptable.