{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T17:35:30Z","timestamp":1787333730342,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"BMJ","content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Br J Ophthalmol"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,14]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To indirectly evaluate the comparative efficacy and safety of aflibercept 8\u2009mg and faricimab in treating retinal vein occlusion (RVO)-associated macular oedema.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We searched MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception to 11 December 2025. We performed frequentist network meta-analysis on efficacy and safety outcomes at loading phase completion (24\u201340\u2009weeks), with 4 weekly aflibercept 2\u2009mg as the common comparator.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Three trials with 2174 adults were included. 8 weekly aflibercept 8\u2009mg with five 4 weekly loading doses was more likely to achieve a best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of \u226569 letters (Snellen 20\/40, unconditional driving threshold) compared with 4 weekly faricimab (risk ratio (RR) 1.18, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.35). 4 weekly faricimab demonstrated greater rates of complete resolution of intraretinal and subretinal fluid against 8 weekly aflibercept 8 mg with both five and three 4 weekly loading doses (both RR 1.12, 95%\u2009CI 1.01 to 1.25). There was no evidence of a difference in mean BCVA improvement between agents. Both aflibercept 8\u2009mg and 2\u2009mg regimens were associated with a greater risk of clinically significant intraocular pressure (IOP) rise of 30\u201360\u2009min post-injection compared with 4 weekly faricimab (8 weekly aflibercept 8 mg with five 4 weekly loading doses, RR 6.42, 95%\u2009CI 1.85 to 22.34; 8 weekly aflibercept 8 mg with three 4 weekly loading doses, RR 6.97, 95%\u2009CI 2.02 to 24.08; 4 weekly aflibercept 2\u2009mg, RR 2.12, 95%\u2009CI 1.01 to 4.47).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Aflibercept 8\u2009mg and faricimab show comparable overall visual efficacy for RVO-associated macular oedema. Indirect comparisons suggest aflibercept 8\u2009mg may increase the probability of achieving driving vision, while faricimab may offer greater anatomical drying and a lower risk of acute IOP elevation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>PROSPERO registration number<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>CRD420251249785.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bjo-2026-330185","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T17:20:14Z","timestamp":1787332814000},"page":"bjo-2026-330185","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Aflibercept 8 mg versus faricimab for macular oedema due to retinal vein occlusion: a systematic review and network meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.1136","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6114-8629","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhengyang","family":"Liu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-9091-1408","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sujan A","family":"Surendran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0464-4685","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elaine W","family":"Chong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Centre for Eye Research Australia, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"},{"name":"Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"981","DOI":"10.1038\/eye.2011.92","article-title":"The burden of disease of retinal vein occlusion: review of the literature","volume":"25","author":"Laouri","year":"2011","journal-title":"Eye (Lond)"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"909","DOI":"10.1038\/s41433-022-02007-4","article-title":"Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) guideline: executive summary","volume":"36","author":"Nicholson","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eye (Lond)"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjophthalmol-2021-320482"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Scott IU , Vanveldhuisen PC , Oden NL , et al . Baseline characteristics and response to treatment of participants with hemiretinal compared with branch retinal or central retinal vein occlusion in the standard care vs corticosteroid for retinal vein occlusion (SCORE) study. Arch Ophthalmol 2012;1517\u201324. doi:10.1001\/archophthalmol.2012.2728","DOI":"10.1001\/archophthalmol.2012.2728"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang R , McClard CK , Laswell S , et al . Quantifying burden of intravitreal injections: questionnaire assessment of life impact of treatment by intravitreal injections (QUALITII). BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2022;7. doi:10.1136\/bmjophth-2022-001188","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjophth-2022-001188"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"950","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ophtha.2024.01.029","article-title":"Efficacy and Safety of Faricimab for Macular Edema due to Retinal Vein Occlusion: 24-Week Results from the BALATON and COMINO Trials","volume":"131","author":"Tadayoni","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ophthalmology"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.7","unstructured":"Bayer . A study to learn how well a higher amount of aflibercept given as an injection into the eye works and how safe it is in people with reduced vision due to swelling in the macula, central part of the retina caused by a blocked vein in the retina (macula edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion). 2025. Available: https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/study\/nct05850520"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7326\/M14-2385"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.9","unstructured":"Lefebvre C , Glanville J , Briscoe S , et al . Chapter 4: searching for and selecting studies. In: Higgins JP , Thomas J , Chandler J , et al , eds. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Cochrane, 2025."},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.10","unstructured":"Covidence systematic review software (program). Melbourne, Australia"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.l4898","article-title":"RoB 2: a revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials","volume":"366","author":"Sterne","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.18637\/jss.v106.i02"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.13","unstructured":"R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria, 2024."},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"848","DOI":"10.1016\/j.oret.2025.03.005","article-title":"Faricimab Treat-and-Extend Dosing for Macular Edema Due to Retinal Vein Occlusion: 72-Week Results from the BALATON and COMINO Trials","volume":"9","author":"Danzig","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ophthalmol Retina"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.15","unstructured":"Gale R . Aflibercept 8 mg in retinal vein occlusion: primary endpoint results from the quasar study. Angiogenesis Conference Virtual Meeting; 2025 Available: https:\/\/congresspublications.bayer.com\/download\/NEW_ANGIOGENESIS%202025_QUASAR%20W36_Gale_PRES_08Feb25.pdf"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen KY , Chan HC , Chan CM . Effectiveness and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies for macular edema in retinal vein occlusion: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Surv Ophthalmol 2025;1067\u201389. doi:10.1016\/j.survophthal.2025.05.008","DOI":"10.1016\/j.survophthal.2025.05.008"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1247","DOI":"10.1016\/j.survophthal.2025.10.003","article-title":"Response to \"Effectiveness and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies for macular edema in retinal vein occlusion: Correspondence","volume":"71","author":"Chen","year":"2026","journal-title":"Surv Ophthalmol"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"741","DOI":"10.1111\/aos.17506","article-title":"Comparative efficacy of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: A systematic review with network meta-analysis","volume":"103","author":"Butler","year":"2025","journal-title":"Acta Ophthalmol"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Friedman SM , Xu Y , Sherman S , et al . Aflibercept 8 mg versus Faricimab Treat-and-Extend for Diabetic Macular Edema or Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Bayesian Fixed-Effect Network Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials. Ophthalmol Ther 2025;2919\u201336. doi:10.1007\/s40123-025-01247-3","DOI":"10.1007\/s40123-025-01247-3"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wojciechowski P , Wdowiak M , Panek M , et al . Efficacy, Safety, and Injection Frequency with Novel Aflibercept 8 mg in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Comparison with Existing Anti-VEGF Regimens Using a Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis. Ophthalmol Ther 2025;733\u201353. doi:10.1007\/s40123-025-01098-y","DOI":"10.1007\/s40123-025-01098-y"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118881","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopha.2025.118881","article-title":"Comparative effectiveness and safety landscape of anti-VEGF therapies for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: Insights from a systematic review and network meta-analysis","volume":"196","author":"Chen","year":"2026","journal-title":"Biomed Pharmacother"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1153","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(23)02577-1","article-title":"Intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg in diabetic macular oedema (PHOTON): 48-week results from a randomised, double-masked, non-inferiority, phase 2\/3 trial","volume":"403","author":"Brown","year":"2024","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(24)00063-1"},{"key":"2026082110200816000_bjo-2026-330185v1.24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100179","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ajoint.2025.100179","article-title":"Inflammation and increased intraocular pressure associated with intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"2","author":"Rebsdorf","year":"2025","journal-title":"AJO International"}],"container-title":["British Journal of Ophthalmology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/syndication.highwire.org\/content\/doi\/10.1136\/bjo-2026-330185","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T17:20:17Z","timestamp":1787332817000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/bjo.bmj.com\/lookup\/doi\/10.1136\/bjo-2026-330185"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]]},"references-count":24,"alternative-id":["10.1136\/bjo-2026-330185"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bjo-2026-330185","relation":{},"ISSN":["0007-1161","1468-2079"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0007-1161","type":"print"},{"value":"1468-2079","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]]}}}