What the trial was testing
The PULSAR enrolled 1,011 patients with macular degeneration. The study was sponsored by Bayer and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
~80% of patients on high-dose aflibercept stretched injections to every 12 weeks or longer.
The Lancet · 2024 · NCT04423718
These findings — that on high-dose aflibercept stretched injections to every 12 weeks or longer at 48 weeks — were published in the The Lancet and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 1,011 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with macular degeneration, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Aflibercept 8 mg (Eylea HD) is FDA-approved for wet macular degeneration and available now. If you're already getting Eylea, ask your retina specialist whether the higher-dose version could let you cut your injection visits roughly in half. Vision outcomes are the same; the win is fewer trips to the office.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open macular degeneration trials
Analysis of Biomarkers From Patients With Chorioretinal Diseases
This study was conducted to investigate the levels of ocular biomarkers from the patients with chorioretinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular diseases, age-related macular degeneration (dry and wet), and retinal degeneration.
The Role of Occupational Therapy for Improving Medication Management for Persons With AMD, DR and Glaucoma
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if education about additional task lighting, enhanced contrast, enlarged print instructions, smart apps and organizational strategies will improve medication management skills. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does additional task lighting, enhanced contrast, enlarged print instructions, smart apps and organizational strategies improve medication management skills, reduce errors and improve functional use of remaining vision for this task? Participants will: Oftentimes, the client is unaware of these strategies which may improve occupational performance during a valued activity. Clients with AMD, DR or Glaucoma who choose to receive the one hour OT service will be provided with 1:1 education regarding the devices and strategies that may improve their ability to perform medication management skills.