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


METHODS
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.
Carvounis
Petros E
PE
Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Kopel
Andrew C
AC
Benz
Matthew S
MS
D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000069579:Ranibizumab