Short-term intraocular pressure trends after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (avastin).
OBJECTIVE
To report the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA).


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
After the charts of 29 patients who underwent 51 consecutive intravitreal injections of bevacizumab were reviewed, analysis of the short-term effect of bevacizumab injections on IOP was performed.


RESULTS
Mean baseline IOP ± SD was 15.1 ± 2.35 mm Hg (range, 10-22 mm Hg). Mean postinjection IOP ± SD was 20.1 ± 4.70 mm Hg (range, 16-31 mm Hg). Mean change in IOP from baseline to ≈30 minutes after bevacizumab injection was 5.0 mm Hg (P = 0.0027). Mean IOP ± SD at the first follow-up visit, which occurred ≈25 days (range, 5-43 days) after injection, was 14.7 ± 2.93 mm Hg (range, 10-20 mm Hg).


CONCLUSIONS
Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab seems to be safe from an IOP standpoint in the short term. IOP monitoring immediately after injection may not be necessary.
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
D Anthony
DA
Mazzulla
Seenu M
SM
Hariprasad
Rama D
RD
Jager
William F
WF
Mieler