Effect on Intraocular Pressure in Patients Receiving Unilateral Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections

Purpose We assessed the frequency and predictive factors related to intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients undergoing unilateral intravitreal ranibizumab and/or bevacizumab injections. Design Retrospective cohort study. Participants Charts of 207 patients with neovascular AMD who presented to a single physician at a retinal referral practice over a 6-month period were retrospectively reviewed. Methods Data recorded included demographic information, clinical findings, total number of bevacizumab and ranibizumab injections received and IOP at each visit. Increases above baseline IOP of >5, >10, or >15 mmHg on ≥2 consecutive visits while under treatment were noted. Main Outcome Measures The frequency of IOP elevation was compared between treated and untreated eyes. In addition, among treated eyes, frequency and odds ratio of experiencing IOP elevation >5 mmHg above baseline on ≥2 consecutive visits was stratified by number of injections. For the main regression analysis, the outcome variable was IOP elevation >5 mmHg on ≥2 consecutive visits and the main independent variable was total number of injections. Results On ≥2 consecutive visits, 11.6% of treated versus 5.3% of untreated/control eyes experienced IOP elevation of >5 mmHg. The mean number of injections was higher in those with (24.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 20.9–28.0; range, 9–39) than without IOP elevation of >5 mmHg (20.4; 95% CI, 18.9–21.8; range, 3–48) on ≥2 consecutive visits. There was an increased odds ratio (5.75; 95% CI, 1.19–27.8; P = 0.03) of experiencing IOP elevation >5 mmHg on ≥2 consecutive visits in patients receiving ≥29 injections compared with ≤12 injections. Of the factors considered, only the total number of injections showed a statistically significant association with IOP elevation >5 mmHg above baseline on ≥2 consecutive visits in treated eyes ( P = 0.05). Conclusions A greater number of intravitreal anti-vasular endothelial growth factor injections is associated with an increased risk for IOP elevation >5 mmHg on ≥2 consecutive visits in eyes with neovascular AMD receiving intravitreal ranbizumab and/or bevacizumab. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.