Intraocular pressure decreases in eyes with glaucoma-related diagnoses after conversion to aflibercept for treatment-resistant age-related macular degeneration

Comparison of intraocular pressure changes in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration treated with aflibercept or faricimab

PURPOSE

To assess the short-term changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) following intravitreal injections of aflibercept or faricimab in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included 161 eyes from 160 Japanese patients diagnosed with nAMD. Of these, 127 eyes (127 patients) were treated with 2 mg/0.05 mL aflibercept, and 34 eyes (33 patients) received 6 mg/0.05 mL faricimab. Each group underwent three consecutive monthly injections. The IOP in each treated eye was measured using non-contact tonometry at each visit over a 3-month period following the initial injection.

RESULTS

The mean baseline IOP in the aflibercept group was 14.4 ± 2.8 mmHg, decreasing to 13.2 ± 3.0 mmHg after 3 months (P < 0.001), whereas the mean baseline IOP in the faricimab group was 13.8 ± 2.1 mmHg, with a change to 13.5 ± 1.5 mmHg after 3 months (P = 0.1873).

CONCLUSION

The loading phase treatment with aflibercept resulted in a decrease in IOP. Faricimab showed a similar trend, there was no significant difference between the two treatments.

Intraocular pressure changes during intravitreal aflibercept injection based on treat-and-extend regimen in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma

PURPOSE

To assess the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal aflibercept injections in Japanese patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) complicated by glaucoma.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 27 eyes of 25 Japanese patients diagnosed with nAMD complicated by glaucoma. The patients were treated with 2 mg/0.05 ml of aflibercept and followed for 52 weeks according to a treat-and-extend (TAE) regimen after 3 consecutive monthly injections. The IOP of each eye was measured at each visit using non-contact tonometry. IOP changes as well as additional glaucoma treatments during 52 weeks were recorded.

RESULTS

The mean of aflibercept injections was 8.3 ± 1.9. The mean IOP at baseline was 14.0 ± 3.1 mmHg, and the mean IOP after aflibercept therapy was 13.0 ± 2.4 mmHg at the final visit (P = 0.0463). No patients received additional glaucoma treatment of eye drops or surgery.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that intravitreal aflibercept injections may be beneficial for patients with nAMD complicated by glaucoma.