Clinical Outcomes Of Eyes With Diabetic Macular Edema Switched From Aflibercept To Ranibizumab Therapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In 2018, cases of inflammation were reported after intravitreal aflibercept (IVA), which resulted in switches to intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR). The authors' purpose was to evaluate outcomes after switching from IVA to IVR in diabetic macular edema (DME).PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study. Eyes switched from IVA to IVR for treating DME were included. Data were gathered from three visits before to three visits post-switch. Outcome measures included central subfoveal thickness (CFT) and Snellen visual acuity (VA).RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in CFT at the first visit (325 mu m +/- 234 mu m; P =.006) compared to the switch visit, but no difference later visits (268 mu m +/- 103 mu m; P =.32; 284 mu m +/- 118 mu m; P =.11; n = 54). There was no statistically significant change in mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA between the switch and later visits (0.43 +/- 0.38, P =.95; 0.38 +/- 0.30, P =.12; 0.41 +/- 0.37, P =.69).CONCLUSIONS: The authors observed transient worsening of macular edema in eyes treated for DME when switched from aflibercept to ranibizumab.