Longer time to first intravitreal aflibercept injection affects outcomes in MEfCRVO

Patients with macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (MEfCRVO) who did not receive their first intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) until >3 months after diagnosis had worse visual improvement compared to patients who received their first IAI <1 month after diagnosis, according to a presentation at ASRS 2022.

Greater visual improvement was noted in patients with poorer baseline BCVA, however, they ultimately had a worse mean final BCVA compared to patients with better baseline BCVA.

Patients with MEfCRVO from COPERNICUS and GALILEO treated with IAI were grouped by time from the initial diagnosis to the first injection (<1 month, 1-3 months, or >3 months).

Overall, 113 patients in COPERNICUS were included, with 44 patients initiating treatment at <1 month, 33 patients at 1-3 months, and 36 patients at >3 months after diagnosis.

At 24 weeks, the mean BCVA gains from baseline were 19.8 letters in the <1 group, 15.6 letters in the 1-3 group, and 11.9 letters in the >3 months group. Between < 1-month group versus >3 months group, the mean difference in BCVA letter gains groups was +7.9.

The presenters also noted that there was a substantial decrease in central retinal thickness (CRT) for all groups. Final CRT was similar across all baseline BCVA tertiles.

Similar outcomes were observed in GALILEO.

Reference
Dhoot D, et al. Effects of Time Since Diagnosis to Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection and Baseline BCVA on Outcomes in CRVO: Post Hoc Analysis of the COPERNICUS and GALILEO Trials. Presented at: ASRS 2022.