Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity changes following intravitreal ranibizumab injection in diabetic retinopathy.

Abstract

To evaluate corneal and conjunctival sensitivity changes following intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injection in eyes with diabetic retinopathy. Forty-six eyes of 46 patients with diabetic macular edema who underwent intravitreal injection of ranibizumab were included in this prospective study. Fifty eyes of 50 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients served as controls. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. Fundus florescein angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed to assess the posterior segment details. IVR (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) was injected from the lower temporal quadrant. Corneal and conjunctival sensitivities were measured using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Corneal sensitivity (CS) increased significantly on the first day in temporal and nasal corneas in treated eyes (P=0.005 and P=0.000, respectively). At week one the increase continued and the difference was significant in central, temporal, and nasal corneas (all P=0.000). In fellow eyes, CS increased significantly only in nasal cornea (P=0.004). Only nasal conjunctival sensitivity increased significantly both in treated and fellow eyes at week one (P=0.000 and P=0.005, respectively). IVR may have a potential to increase corneal and conjunctival sensitivities in diabetic retinopathy.