title: Administration of repeat intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs by retina specialists in an injection-only clinic for patients with exudative AMD: patient acceptance and safety.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report patient acceptance and safety of repeated intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents for exudative AMD, by retina specialists, without an eye examination before every injection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review. 115 eyes (110 patients) with exudative AMD underwent repeated intravitreal anti-VEGF injections with limited interval examination and diagnostic testing. Medication, laterality, number of injection cycles started and completed, number of injections per injection cycle, subjective visual changes, pre- and post-injection visual acuity (VA), pre- and post-injection intraocular pressure (IOP), nurse- and patient-initiated phone calls, emergency (non-scheduled) clinic visits, complications, new diagnoses, and patient complaints after each injection were recorded. The main outcome measures were complications and patient complaints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  396 injections were administered in the injection clinic to 110 patients in 175 injection cycles (range: 0 to 5 injections per cycle). Of 175 injection cycles, there were 134 uninterrupted cycles and 41 interrupted cycles where an eye exam was performed. Fourteen new diagnoses were made: six during emergency visits, three at injection clinic appointments, and five at the next full examination after completion of a prescribed injection clinic cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of anti-VEGF injections in a designated injection clinic, by retina specialists, according to a prescribed schedule, and with limited pre-injection testing, for patients with wet AMD, is well-tolerated.
authors: Mayo Clinic Department of Ophthalmology, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Engman
authors: Albert O
authors: AO
authors: Edwards
authors: Sophie J
authors: SJ
authors: Bakri
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013038:Specialization; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A