Intraocular pressure changes after repeated intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration with or without glaucoma

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the long-term effects of multiple intravitreal injections on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration, and to determine whether this is related to a pre-existing diagnosis of glaucoma. MethodsA retrospective study was carried out on 209 eyes in 173 patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who received at least three intravitreal injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab, or both, from January 2006 to December 2012 at Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital. Sequential changes in IOP following the intravitreal injections were documented and the incidence and characteristics of the patients diagnosed with glaucoma were recorded and analyzed. ResultsTwo hundred and nine eyes in 173 patients were included in this study. The mean number of injections was 10.1 (range 3–23). No significant change was found in IOP (p = 0.41, paired t test) and none of the patients experienced delayed ocular hypertension during the treatment course. No correlation was found between differences in IOP and the number of injections (correlation coefficient −0.086) and no significant change in IOP was found in patients with or without glaucoma (p = 0.42 and 0.37, respectively, paired t test). In addition, the use of drugs to lower IOP did not increase with repeated intravitreal injections in patients with glaucoma [single drug, 24 (63.2%) patients; two drugs 14 (36.8%) patients]. ConclusionRepeated intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections of bevacizumab or ranibizumab, or both, did not increase the risk of increasing IOP in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration, with or without glaucoma.