Purpose: To determine the incidence of ocular adverse effects (AEs) following brolucizumab injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration at a tertiary academic institution.
Design: Retrospective, single center cohort study.
Participants: All patients who received an intravitreal injection of brolucizumab 6 mg for neovascular age-related macular degeneration between October 7, 2019 and July 31, 2020.
Methods: Medical records of all patients who received brolucizumab 6 mg during the aforementioned time period were carefully reviewed and all ocular adverse effects after injection were charted.
Main outcome measures: Incidence of post-injection ocular AEs, including intraocular inflammation (IOI), and time to development of AEs after injection.
Results: A total of 77 patients received brolucizumab 6 mg for a total of 115 administrations during the study period. There were 4 AEs (3.5%), including three cases of IOI (2.6%), one central retinal artery occlusion, and one retinal detachment. Two men and two women were affected.
Conclusion: Ocular AEs, including those leading to severe vision loss, may develop after intravitreal brolucizumab 6 mg. A careful discussion of benefits and risks to brolucizumab should be conducted with all patients.
Precis: In this first case series of ocular adverse effects after brolucizumab 6 mg injection at a single tertiary care center, the incidence of ocular adverse effects was 3.5%, including a 2.6% incidence of intraocular inflammation.
Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; anterior uveitis; arterial occlusive disease; choroidal/retinal inflammation; retina – medical therapies.