Plain language summary of publication of the 96-week results from the PHOTON study: intravitreal aflibercept 8 mg for diabetic macular edema

Summary: What is this summary about? This is a summary of a publication about the 2-year (96-week) results from the PHOTON study, which was published in Ophthalmology. Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss in people with diabetes. In people with diabetes, leaky blood vessels in the retina can lead to swelling (known as edema) in the macula, the area of the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for sharp vision. Swelling of the macula can cause blurred vision and vision loss. The main cause of leakiness in blood vessels is over-production of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Anti-VEGF medicines can block VEGF to prevent the development of leaky blood vessels and edema. These medicines are injected into the eye and may need to be given regularly to maintain good vision. Some people find it difficult to attend all the injection appointments that may be necessary to maintain good vision. Aflibercept is an anti-VEGF medicine that has been approved for the treatment of people with DME. After 5 initial monthly injections of aflibercept 2 mg, the recommended injection schedule is every 4–8 weeks. The objective of the PHOTON study was to find out whether a higher dose of aflibercept (8 mg), injected every 12 or 16 weeks after 3 initial monthly injections, was as effective as aflibercept 2 mg injected every 8 weeks after 5 initial monthly injections. A previous report from the PHOTON study showed that aflibercept 8 mg provided a similar level of improvement in vision to aflibercept 2 mg after 1 year (48 weeks) in people with DME. People who received aflibercept 8 mg received fewer and less frequent eye injections than those who received aflibercept 2 mg. What were the results? After 96 weeks, study participants who received aflibercept 8 mg every 12 weeks or longer following 3 initial monthly injections maintained similar improvements in vision, with fewer injections, compared to those treated with aflibercept 2 mg every 8 weeks following 5 initial monthly injections. During the 96-week study, study participants could receive aflibercept 8-mg injections more or less frequently than the schedule they were assigned depending on whether DME was worsening or improving. More than 80% of participants who were given aflibercept 8 mg and completed the study through 96 weeks kept receiving injections at least every 12 weeks without needing more frequent injections. At Week 96, almost half of the participants receiving aflibercept 8-mg treatment qualified for dosing intervals of at least 20 weeks, and around one-quarter were able to have their aflibercept 8-mg dosing interval extended to every 24 weeks. Adverse events in participants who received aflibercept 8 mg were similar to those in participants who received aflibercept 2 mg through 96 weeks. What do the results mean? These findings show that aflibercept 8 mg provided a similar level of improvement in vision to aflibercept 2 mg in people with DME after 2 years, with fewer and less frequent eye injections. Thus, aflibercept 8 mg given at least every 12 weeks can provide long-term improvement in vision and reduce treatment burden. Where can I find the original article on which this summary is based? You can read the original article at: Do DV, Wykoff CC, Sivaprasad S, et al. Intravitreal Aflibercept 8 mg for Diabetic Macular Edema: 96-Week Results from the Randomized Phase 2/3 PHOTON Trial. Ophthalmology. 2026:133(5):577–588. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2025.10.028 Who is this summary for? The authors developed this plain language summary to help people living with DME, care partners, patient advocates, healthcare professionals, insurance providers, and policy makers to better understand the results of the PHOTON study.