Early Real-World Experience of Switching to Faricimab for Macular Oedema Secondary to Vein Occlusion.
Switching to faricimab significantly lengthened treatment intervals in refractory vein occlusion oedema
Early Real-World Experience of Switching to Faricimab for Macular Oedema Secondary to Vein Occlusion.
To evaluate the real-world effectiveness, durability, and safety of faricimab 6 mg in eyes with treatment-refractory retinal vein occlusion (retinal vein occlusion)-associated macular oedema (macular oedema) in the United Kingdom (United Kingdom).
This was a retrospective, single-centre observational study of eyes with retinal vein occlusion that were switched to faricimab after prior treatment with previous anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents.
time between injections stretched - doctors waited longer before treatment was needed again
Eyes had received a mean (SD) of 20.8 (16.9) prior anti-VEGF injections.
55.0 (18.8) letters, p = 0.08).
The central subfield thickness (central subfield thickness) reduced from 407.6 (102.1) to 377.0 (186.5) µm, and the maximum central retinal thickness from 483.6 (103.1) to 442.2 (187.2) µm, although these changes were not statistically significant ( p > 0.05).
Six eyes (27.3%) discontinued faricimab, with three (13.6%) requiring an intravitreal dexamethasone implant following a suboptimal response.
In this heavily pre-treated, chronic retinal vein occlusion cohort, switching to faricimab without a loading phase resulted in stable visual acuity, modest but non-significant anatomical improvements, and a significant extension in treatment intervals.
These findings suggest that faricimab may provide durability benefits and disease stabilisation in treatment-refractory retinal vein occlusion, although functional gains may be limited in chronic disease.
Further prospective studies are required to define optimal switching strategies.