title: SUSTAINED ELEVATION OF INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE AFTER INTRAVITREAL ANTI-VEGF AGENTS: What Is the Evidence?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the literature addressing sustained and delayed elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration being treated with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors and to present possible mechanisms of effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of current literature evaluating sustained and delayed elevation of IOP in patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies have demonstrated that patients undergoing treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents may experience sustained and delayed elevation of IOP. The incidence of sustained elevation of IOP in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration varied from 3.45% to 11.6%, and few patients required surgical management to control IOP. Possible risk factors associated with sustained and delayed elevation of IOP include, but are not limited to, history of glaucoma, phakia, history of glucocorticoid use, and/or extended treatment duration. There are multiple theories explaining the pathogenesis of sustained elevation of IOP, including microparticle obstruction of the trabecular meshwork, intraocular inflammation, and transient elevation of IOP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sustained and delayed elevation of IOP in patients undergoing treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents is likely a multifactorial process. Further studies to prospectively investigate sustained elevation of IOP in large, randomized, controlled trials might lead to a better understanding of the long-term adverse events associated with intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical Center, Lions Eye Institute, Albany, New York; and †Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Vaidehi S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Dedania
authors.forename: Sophie J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bakri
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000069579:Ranibizumab; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000069579:Ranibizumab