Study Reveals Increased Incidence of Intraocular Inflammation with Aflibercept Injections in Real-World Applications

Recent research indicates that the occurrence of mild intraocular inflammation (IOI) following intravitreal injections of aflibercept is more prevalent in real-world settings compared to findings from clinical trials. This study was published in JAMA Ophthalmology on May 1, 2025.

Researchers from the Technical University of Munich conducted an assessment involving 41 patients--23 diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration and 18 with diabetic macular edema. These patients received a total of 136 intravitreal injections of aflibercept, each containing 8 mg of the medication.

The findings revealed that five patients experienced mild sterile IOI within one to three days following the injection, translating to an incidence rate of 3.7% per injection and 12% per patient. Notably, only one patient exhibited inflammation after their initial injection, while the other four had prior exposure to aflibercept.

All affected patients received treatment with local anti-inflammatory therapies, which included either topical or subconjunctival corticosteroids. Additionally, two patients were administered systemic oral corticosteroids. After the inflammation was effectively resolved, there was no observed decline in best-corrected visual acuity among the patients.

The study's authors emphasized the importance of evaluating patient-related risk factors and providing comprehensive education to patients regarding potential side effects associated with aflibercept injections. They acknowledged that while the inflammation observed in this study was classified as mild, proper management protocols should be in place to mitigate any risks.

It is noteworthy that several authors of the study disclosed affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry, which may be relevant in the context of the research findings.

For further details, refer to the original study by Karoline E. Binder et al. in JAMA Ophthalmology, DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2025.0969.