Real-life short-term experience of switching from other anti-VEGF therapy to faricimab in patients with refractory macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion in China.

PURPOSE: This retrospective, case series study evaluates real-world outcomes of faricimab in Chinese patients with persistent macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.

METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed the outcomes after the injections of faricimab in both persistent macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). All patients would be treated with injections of faricimab under the pro re nata (PRN) regimen. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), intraretinal fluid (IRF) and subretinal fluid under Optical coherence tomography (OCT) were described and analyzed.

RESULTS: Fifty-two eyes of 52 patients met the criteria and were enrolled in the study. Prior to enrollment, patients received an average of 9.16 ± 4.26 anti-VEGF injections, with 18 patients (34.62%) receiving an average of 3.23 ± 1.42 sustained-dexamethasone intravitreal implant. After the switch, patients received an average of 2.97 ± 0.74 injections, with a mean follow-up duration of 25.65 ± 11.87 weeks after IVF. After the third injection, BCVA was significantly improved from 40.13 to 46.75 letters, CMT was significantly decreased from 547.4 to 216.4 μm. Of the patients experiencing SRF or IRF at baseline, 78.85% had complete fluid resolution by the end of the follow-up period. 73.08% of all the patients extended the treatment interval to 12 weeks or longer. No significant systemic and ocular adverse events were observed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that faricimab significantly improves visual acuity and reduces CMT in previously treated RVO-ME patients, with a favorable safety profile.