Intravitreal aflibercept for macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion: The 24-week results of the VIBRANT study

Purpose To compare the efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept injection (IAI) with macular grid laser photocoagulation for the treatment of macular edema after branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Design The VIBRANT study was a double-masked, active-controlled, randomized, phase III trial. Participants Treatment-naïve eyes with macular edema after BRVO were included in the study if the occlusion occurred within 12 months and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was between ≤73 and ≥24 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters (20/40-20/320 Snellen equivalent). Methods Eyes (1 eye per patient) received either IAI 2 mg every 4 weeks (n = 91) from baseline to week 20 or grid laser (n = 92) at baseline with a single grid laser rescue treatment, if needed, from weeks 12 through 20. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome measure was the proportion of eyes that gained ≥15 ETDRS letters from baseline BCVA at week 24. Secondary end points included mean change from baseline BCVA and central retinal thickness (CRT) at week 24. Results The proportion of eyes that gained ≥15 ETDRS letters from baseline at week 24 was 52.7% in the IAI group compared with 26.7% in the laser group (P = 0.0003). The mean improvement from baseline BCVA at week 24 was 17.0 ETDRS letters in the IAI group and 6.9 ETDRS letters in the laser group (P < 0.0001). The mean reduction in CRT from baseline at week 24 was 280.5 μm in the IAI group and 128.0 μm in the laser group (P < 0.0001). Traumatic cataract in an IAI patient was the only ocular serious adverse event (SAE) that occurred. There were no cases of intraocular inflammation or endophthalmitis. The incidence of nonocular SAEs was 8.8% in the IAI group and 9.8% in the laser group. One Anti-Platelet Trialists' Collaboration-defined event of nonfatal stroke (1.1%) and 1 death (1.1%) due to pneumonia occurred during the 24 weeks of the study, both in patients in the laser group. Conclusions Monthly IAI provided significantly greater visual benefit and reduction in CRT at 24 weeks than grid laser photocoagulation in eyes with macular edema after BRVO.