Comparing Injection Treatments for Retinal Vein Occlusion — Ranibizumab vs Aflibercept
When two effective injection treatments exist for the same condition, patients and their doctors need evidence to guide the choice between them. Dr Adrian Hunt’s research compared real-world outcomes of ranibizumab and aflibercept for macular oedema in retinal vein occlusion, using Fight Retinal Blindness! registry data across both branch and central RVO.
The branch RVO comparison was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology in 2021. The central RVO counterpart was published in Acta Ophthalmologica in 2022 and was recognised as a Top Downloaded Article by the journal — signalling that ophthalmologists internationally were reading and applying the findings.
The CRVO results were presented by one of Dr Hunt’s co-authors, Prof. Barthelmes, alongside Dr Hunt who presented the BRVO results as Prize Papers at the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA) congress in 2021 — one of the most competitive sessions at the meeting.
The work was covered by HCP Live in the United States. Further analysis of twelve-month follow-up data, presented at the Netherlands Ophthalmological Society (NOG) Annual Congress, received additional HCP Live coverage.
What this means for patients: Both ranibizumab and aflibercept are effective treatments for retinal vein occlusion. This research — drawn from routine clinical practice rather than controlled trial settings — provides evidence that helps inform which agent to use for each individual patient.