Changes of intraocular pressure after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (avastin)

PURPOSE: To determine changes and need to monitor intraocular pressure (IOP) following intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin). METHODS: Seventy patients (122 injections) underwent an intravitreal injection of Avastin for exudative age-related macular degeneration treatment. Forty-one eyes (59%) had single injection, 29 eyes (41%) had repeated injections. IOP was measured before and after Avastin injection at 3, 10, and 15 minutes. Twenty-nine eyes were evaluated for baseline IOP changes after multiple injections. Statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Baseline mean IOP was 15.17 +/- 3.42 mm Hg, with range from 08 mm Hg to 23 mm Hg. Postinjection 3 minutes the IOP had risen to a mean of 36.27 +/- 5.1 mm Hg and fell spontaneously to a mean of 24.56 +/- 5.9 mm Hg at 10 minutes. Ten eyes (14%) needed 15 minutes to drop below 30 mm Hg. All eyes were below 30 mm Hg at 15 minutes. No significant change between multiple baseline IOP measurements was detected. CONCLUSION: Avastin injections caused a predictable probably volume-related rise in IOP which never occluded the central retinal artery and which spontaneously fell to below 30 mm Hg in all eyes within 15 minutes. This strong safety profile provides guidelines on monitoring IOP after Avastin injections. There was no IOP change after multiple injections.     

Effect of dorzolamide-timolol fixed combination prophylaxis on intraocular pressure spikes after intravitreal bevacizumab injection

AIM: To evaluate the effect of topical dorzolamide-timolol fixed combination prophylaxis on short term intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in patients who had intravitreal bevacizumab injection.METHODS: One hundred and fifty one eyes of 151 patients which were followed up in retina clinic in Ulucanlar Eye Training and Research Hospital were evaluated in this study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consists of 75 patients who had topical dorzolamid-timolol medication two hours before injection; while Group 2 consists of 76 patients without prophylaxis. Demographic data, IOP measurements prior to the injection and one, thirty and sixty minutes and twenty-four hours after the injection were recorded. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).RESULTS:There were no significant difference between two groups in age, gender distrubition and indications for injections. The mean IOPs in Groups 1 and 2 prior to the injection (T0) were 17.84±0.43 and 18.15±0.43 mm Hg, one minute after the injection (T1) were 29.75±1.6 and 34.44±1.59 mm Hg, 30min after the injection (T30) were 20.06±0.6 and 21.71±0.59 mm Hg respectively. The mean IOPs were 18.26±0.56 mm Hg in Group 1 and 19.78±0.56 mm Hg in Group 2 sixty minutes after the injection (T60). All IOP values after the injection were compared between two groups, there was a significant difference between two groups only on T1; one minute after the injection (P=0.04). There were a statiscially significant difference between the baseline values and other recorded values; except on T60, in Groups 1 and 2 (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: After intravitreal bevacizumab injection; we observe a transient IOP elevation which normalizes about one hour after intravitreal injection. In patients who had topical dorzolamid-timolol combination prophylaxis before injections, a significant decrease is seen in IOP spikes due to this injection. The appropiate approach will monitor IOP after intravitreal injection and evaluate the using prophylactic antiglaucomatous drugs before the injection in patients with ganglion nerve cell damage.     

湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性患者注射雷珠单抗后早期眼压的变化

目的 观察湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性(wet age-related macular degenaration,wAMD）患者玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗后早期眼压的变化。设计 前瞻性病例系列。研究对象 在北京医院接受玻璃体腔雷珠单抗（0.5mg/0.05ml）注射的wAMD患者135例（135眼）。方法 患者接受玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗术前、术后10、30 min、2 h及术后1天,使用Topcon非接触眼压计分别测量眼压。观察患者注射后早期的眼压变化情况。主要指标 眼压。结果 患者术前眼压平均为（15.41±2.69） mmHg,术后10、30 min、2 h及术后1天的眼压平均值分别为（21.07±5.83） mmHg、（18.24±4.17） mmHg、（17.57±4.60） mmHg、（15.20±3.05） mmHg。术后2小时内的眼压与术前比有显著性差异（P均<0.05）,而术后1天眼压与术前比无显著性差异（P=0.239）。术后各时间段眼压升高比率呈逐渐下降趋势,其中术后10 min,眼压升高比率（眼压升高比率≥10 mmHg占17.78%;≥15 mmHg占5.19%）及升高绝对值（眼压≥21 mmHg占45.93%;≥25 mmHg占21.48 %;≥30 mmHg占8.15%）均明显高于其他时间段。术前眼压越高,术后10 min眼压≥21 mmHg的比例越高（P=0.000, OR=0.117, 95%CI=0.051-0.268）。结论 大部分湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性患者玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗后早期眼压显著升高,2小时内眼压变化明显;术前眼压偏高可能是玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗早期眼压升高的危险因素。     

Intravenous hypertonic saline to reduce intraocular pressure

Purpose: To quantitate the effect of intravenous hypertonic saline (IVHTS) injection on elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Methods: Nineteen patients (median age, 65 years; range, 41–84 years) with glaucoma and an IOP 30 mmHg or higher were recruited. A bolus of IVHTS (sodium chloride concentration 23.4%) was injected in an antecubital vein over 10–20 seconds. The IOP and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were measured frequently for 2 hr. The dosage was 0.5 mmol/kg sodium in 11 patients (Group 1) and 1.0 mmol/kg in eight patients (Group 2). Results: In both groups, a median absolute IOP reduction of 7 mmHg was achieved in 5 min. The maximum median reduction was 7 mmHg (range, 4–16) and 9 mmHg (range, 3–14) at 5 and 16 min after IVHTS in Group 1 and 2, respectively, at which point the median IOP had reduced from 38 and 35 mmHg to 31 and 27 mmHg (p < 0.001), respectively. In both groups, the IOP remained 7 mmHg reduced 2 hr after IVHTS. Systolic BP increased a median of 14.5 mmHg at 3 min and was comparable with baseline after 6 min. Conclusion: Intravenous hypertonic saline solution reduces IOP moderately within minutes for up to 2 hr.     

Intraocular pressure elevation after intravitreal or posterior sub-Tenon triamcinolone acetonide injection

BACKGROUND: Despite the benefits of intraocular steroids for the treatment of inflammatory, neovascular, proliferative, and edematous diseases, one of the side effects is raised intraocular pressure (IOP). In this study, we attempted to identify when IOP elevates, peaks, and returns to the preinjection baseline IOP after intravitreal or posterior sub-Tenon administration of triamcinolone acetonide, as well as the factors that might affect IOP. METHODS: Retrospective case review was undertaken of 69 patients (82 eyes), who received either a 4 mg intravitreal (16 eyes) or a 20 mg posterior sub-Tenon (66 eyes) triamcinolone acetonide injection. IOP assessment for each eye was completed at the preinjection baseline and at the first, third, and sixth month of follow-up. RESULTS: The mean IOP of all eyes increased significantly at each follow-up. The mean maximum elevation ratio from the baseline was 4.0 (SD 5.2) mm Hg. An elevation of 5 mm Hg or greater occurred in 28 eyes (34.1%). The maximum elevation correlated significantly with age (p < 0.01). The incidence of an elevation of 5 mm Hg or greater was significantly higher among patients younger than 60 years (p < 0.01) and relatively higher among female patients (p = 0.051). The mean IOP increased significantly at the first month after intravitreal injection but at all follow-up periods after posterior sub-Tenon injection. There was no significant difference in IOP elevation according to disease type, although eyes with diabetic retinopathy tended to be at higher risk of IOP elevation. Two eyes of two female patients, who had received posterior sub-Tenon injections for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, required glaucoma surgery. INTERPRETATION: The IOP elevation of 5 mm Hg or greater observed in 34.1% of the eyes was consistent with past reports. IOP elevation was associated with patients of less than 60 years of age and with female sex, and it lasted longer after posterior sub-Tenon injection than after intravitreal injection. Careful assessment of IOP during a follow-up period of at least 6 months is paramount, especially in younger female patients after posterior sub-Tenon injection.     

Effect of different lens status on intraocular pressure elevation in patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections

AIM: To assess the effect of lens status on sustained intraocular pressure(IOP) elevation in patients treated intravitreally with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) agents. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected for all patients treated with intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF medication at a tertiary medical center in July 2015. Findings were analyzed by lens status during 6 months' follow-up. The main outcome measure was a sustained increase in IOP(≥21 mm Hg or change of ≥6 mm Hg from baseline on ≥2 consecutive visits, or addition of a new IOPlowering medication during follow-up). RESULTS: A total of 119 eyes of 100 patients met the study criteria: 40 phakic, 40 pseudophakic, and 39 pseudophakic after Nd:YAG capsulotomy. The rate of sustained IOP elevation was significantly higher in the postcapsulotomy group(23.1%) than in the phakic/pseudophakic groups(8.1%;P=0.032), with no statistically significant differences among the 3 groups in mean number of injections, either total(P=0.82) or by type of anti-VEGF mediation(bevacizumab: P=0.19;ranibizumab: P=0.13), or mean follow-up time(P=0.70). CONCLUSION: Nd:YAG capsulotomy appears to be a risk factor for sustained IOP elevation in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. This finding has important implications given the growing use of anti-VEGF treatment and the irreversible effects of elevated IOP.     

Trabeculectomy and phacotrabeculectomy, with mitomycin-C, show similar two-year target IOP outcomes

BACKGROUND: To determine the efficacy and safety of trabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (trabMMC) compared with that of single-site phacotrabeculectomy with mitomycin-C (phacotrabMMC) in glaucoma patients at increased risk for filtering surgery failure. METHODS: Eighty-five consecutive eyes that underwent trabMMC and 105 consecutive eyes that underwent phacotrabMMC were retrospectively compared up to 2 years postoperatively with respect to intraocular pressure (IOP), number of glaucoma medications, and surgical complication rates. The primary outcome was the difference in the cumulative proportion of patients meeting the target IOP range at 2 years. Secondary outcomes included mean postoperative IOP, mean IOP drop from baseline, mean number of glaucoma medications, and surgical complication rates. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar in the 2 groups and most patients had advanced glaucoma with a similar upper limit of the target IOP range (15.5 +/- 2.6 mm Hg for trabMMC vs. 15.3 +/- 2.1 mm Hg for phacotrabMMC, p = 0.56). Loss to follow-up was significant in both groups (almost 50% over 2 years). A statistically similar proportion of patients achieved their target IOP range at 1 and 2 years in both groups: the cumulative success rate at 2 years was 29.04% and 22.91% (p = 0.44) without add-on glaucoma therapy, 25.38% and 25.22% (p = 0.60) with the use of up to 2 glaucoma medications, and 30.01% and 25.17% (p = 0.81) with the use of any number of glaucoma medications, in the trabMMC and phacotrabMMC groups, respectively. Mean postoperative IOP was also similar between the 2 groups at almost all follow-up times up to 2 years (13.56 +/- 4.92 mm Hg in trabMMC vs. 13.98 +/- 4.74 mm Hg in phacotrabMMC at 2 years, p = 0.67). The mean IOP drop from baseline was significantly greater in the trabMMC group throughout the study period (-10.87 +/- 8.33 mm Hg in trabMMC vs. -6.15 +/- 7.01 mm Hg in phacotrabMMC at 2 years, p = 0.003); however, baseline IOP was also higher in the trabMMC group (26.1 mm Hg vs. 20.3 mm Hg, p < 0.0001). Serious postoperative complication rates were similarly low between the 2 groups. INTERPRETATION: TrabMMC and phacotrabMMC may be equally safe and effective in bringing IOP to within an acceptable target range over 2 years in advanced glaucoma patients at increased risk for filtering surgery failure, although trabMMC appears to be associated with greater IOP lowering from baseline.     

A trial of topical prednisolone acetate before intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide decreases intraocular pressure spikes

Objective: To compare adverse intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes in patients receiving intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) in 2 cohorts: (i) patients who underwent a topical prednisolone acetate trial (PAT) without incurring a short-term IOP rise, and (ii) control patients who did not undergo a PAT.Design: Retrospective cohort study.Participants: Charts of all patients who underwent any intravitreal injection during the study period were reviewed (n = 1150).Methods: Patients in the PAT group received a 6-week course of prednisolone acetate 1% 4 times per day and had an IOP that did not rise above 25 mm Hg or above 8 mm Hg over the IOP in the contralateral eye. Patients undergoing a PAT and having a short-term IOP rise were not studied. Control patients did not receive a PAT. All patients received 12-20 mg of IVTA. Patients were followed for a minimum of 6 weeks and follow-up lasted for I year or until intraocular surgery or another IVTA injection was performed.Results: There were 97 patients in the PAT cohort and 75 control patients. Patients in the PAT cohort had a lower proportional rise between maximum IOP and baseline (43%) compared with controls (64%) (p = 0.035). Patients in the PAT group also had a lower risk of incurring a 40% (p = 0.05), 60% (p = 0.0I8), and 100% (p = 0.045) increase in maximum IOP (vs baseline) compared with controls and were less likely to require glaucoma filtration surgery (p = 0.035).Conclusions: Patients undergoing a PAT who did not have a subsequent short-term IOP rise had a lower risk of severe IOP spikes after IVTA compared with those patients receiving IVTA but not having undergone a PAT.     

Effect of 0.01% atropine eyedrops on intraocular pressure in schoolchildren: a randomized clinical trial

AIM: To assess the effect of 0.01% atropine eye drops on intraocular pressure (IOP) in myopic children. METHODS: A placebo-controlled, double-masked, randomized study. Totally 220 children aged 6 to 12y with myopia ranging from -1.00 to -6.00 D in both eyes were enrolled. Children were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either 0.01% atropine eye drops or a placebo group using generated random numbers. All participants underwent the examination of IOP and cycloplegic refraction at baseline, 6 and 12mo. The change of IOP and the proportion of subjects with increased IOP in atropine and placebo groups were compared. RESULTS: Of 220 children, 117 were boys (53.2%). A total of 159 (72.3%) participants completed the follow-up at the 1-year study. At baseline, the mean IOP was 15.74 mm Hg (95%CI, 15.13 to 16.34 mm Hg) for the 0.01% atropine group and 15.59 mm Hg (95%CI, 15.00 to 16.19 mm Hg) for placebo group (mean difference, 0.14 mm Hg; P=0.743) after adjusting for central corneal thickness at baseline. At one year follow-up, the mean change of IOP was 0.16 mm Hg (95%CI, -0.43 to 0.76 mm Hg) for the 0.01% atropine group and -0.11 mm Hg (95%CI, -0.71 to 0.50 mm Hg) for placebo group (mean difference, 0.27 mm Hg; P=0.525) after adjusting for central corneal thickness. The 51.4% of children have increased IOP in the 0.01% atropine group, compared with 45.9% in the placebo group (P=0.511). CONCLUSION: The 0.01% atropine eye drops do not significantly affect the risk of elevated IOP. It is relatively safer to use in the studies that try to minimize myopia progression. However, a further long-duration study is required to be validated.     

Distribution of intraocular pressure and its determinants in an Iranian adult population

AIM: To determine the distribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) and its determinants in an Iranian population. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey, random cluster sampling was conducted from the 40-64 years old population of Shahroud, in the north of Iran. All participants had optometry and ophthalmic exams. IOP was determined using the Goldmann tonometry method and biometric components were measured. RESULTS: Of the 6311 people selected for the study, 5190 (82.2%) participated. The mean age of the participants was 50.9±6.2y and 58.7% of them were female. Mean IOP was 12.87±2.27 mm Hg. In this study 0.3% of the participants had an IOP higher than 21 mm Hg. The multiple linear regression model revealed that sex (Coef=-0.30; 95% CI: -0.43 to -0.17), diabetes (Coef=0.43; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.67), high systolic blood pressure (Coef=0.02; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.02), high body mass index (BMI) (Coef=0.03; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.04), higher education (Coef=0.02, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.04), thicker central corneal thickness (Coef=0.01; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.02), and myopic shift in spherical equivalent (Coef=-0.14; 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.10) significantly correlated with high IOP. CONCLUSION: The IOP in this 40-64 years old population is low overall. In the north of Iran, average IOP is statistically significantly correlated with female sex, diabetes, higher BMI, systolic blood pressure, higher education, thicker cornea, and myopic refractive error.