Retinal pigment epithelium tears following ranibizumab for exudative age-related macular degeneration

PURPOSE: To report two cases of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears following intravitreous ranibizumab injection for age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-associated serous pigment epithelium detachment (PED). DESIGN: Noncomparative case series. METHODS: The charts of two patients who received intravitreous ranibizumab for AMD-associated PED and developed RPE tears were reviewed. Fundus photography, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography performed prior to injection and upon follow-up confirmed the diagnosis. RESULTS: Two patients with serous PED and occult choroidal neovascularization associated with AMD developed RPE tears within four weeks of injection with ranibizumab. CONCLUSIONS: RPE tears may complicate ranibizumab intravitreous injection for the treatment of AMD-associated PEDs. Further studies need be undertaken to determine whether this complication may also occur when treating choroidal neovascular membranes not associated with PED and whether certain angiographic subtypes are more susceptible to this complication.