Purpose: To report 8 cases of acute intra ocular inflammation (IOI) following intravitreal injections (IVI) of faricimab in patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and macular neovascularization associated with chronic central serous retinopathy (CSR).
Methods: This is a multicentric retrospective observational case-series. Cases of acute IOI that occurred in 5 different institutions in France and Italy between November 2023 and June 2024 were reported.
Results: 8 eyes of 8 patients presented with acute IOI following IVI of faricimab. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the time of the IOI event varied between counting fingers and 20/25. 6 patients had neovascular AMD, 1 patient had a macular edema secondary to central RVO and 1 patient had a macular neovascularization associated with chronic CSR. Mean delay between the last IVI of faricimab and the assessment of the IOI event was 10.0 days. Presentation of IOI varied among patients. 6 patients presented with vitritis with varying severity. One of them had an associated papillitis. One patient presented with an anterior uveitis without vitritis. Corticosteroids were used in 5 cases. 2 cases resolved spontaneously. Surgery was needed in 1 case. These 8 cases of IOI occurred out of a total of 1923 IVI of faricimab performed with an estimated frequency of 0.41%.
Conclusion: Acute IOI may happen after IVI of faricimab. Severity of inflammation varies and treatment should be adjusted according to the clinical presentation.
Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; faricimab; intra ocular inflammation; intravitreal injection; vitritis.