One-year real-world data of intravitreal faricimab in patients with pre-treated neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To assess one-year real-world outcomes of faricimab therapy in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) previously treated with anti-VEGF agents and managed using a treat-and-extend (TAE) regimen.

METHODS: Patients with treatment-resistant nAMD were switched to faricimab. Functional and structural parameters, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA in logMAR), foveal centre point (FCP in µm), central subfield retinal thickness (CSRT in µm), and macular volume (MV in mm³), were recorded over a one-year observation period.

RESULTS: Seventy eyes from 59 patients initiated faricimab therapy between September and December 2022; complete one-year data were available for 60 eyes, with a mean follow-up of 391 ± 20 days. Prior to switching, patients had received an average of 42.4 ± 25.2 anti-VEGF injections over 70.8 ± 45.4 months. Significant structural improvements were observed: FCP decreased from 359 ± 165 μm to 283 ± 132 μm, CSRT from 414 ± 153 μm to 343 ± 116 μm, and macular volume from 2.74 ± 0.67 mm³ to 2.46 ± 0.49 mm³ (all p < 0.001). The mean injection interval increased from 5.8 ± 1.8 weeks to 8.2 ± 3.3 weeks (p < 0.001), indicating improved disease control. BCVA remained stable (0.45 ± 0.37 logMAR vs. 0.44 ± 0.39 logMAR; p = 0.35). At the end of follow-up, 37% of eyes achieved a completely dry macula with no residual intra-, subretinal, or sub-RPE fluid. Two eyes developed mild anterior chamber inflammation, which resolved fully under topical corticosteroids.

CONCLUSION: Switching to faricimab in recalcitrant, heavily pretreated nAMD may yield meaningful structural improvements while stabilizing visual acuity.

© 2026. The Author(s).

PMID: 42714580