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


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Joan and Irwin Jacobs Retina Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Shiley Eye Center, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Iryna A
IA
Falkenstein
Lingyun
L
Cheng
William R
WR
Freeman
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019233:Retreatment; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; 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; D000068258:Bevacizumab