title: Long-term effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections on intraocular pressure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a substantial debate in the ophthalmology community about whether anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections result in a long-term increase in intraocular pressure (IOP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study to investigate how the number and timing of intravitreal injections in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) affect IOP over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected long-term IOP data on patients receiving anti-VEGF injections at our institution. Patients over the age of 40 years who received injections for AMD (n = 76) or DME (n = 55) were included. Patients were grouped according to indication as well as number of injections received (1-3, 4-6, 7-9, or 10+ injections). IOP measurements were then placed into time points (0-6, 6-12, 12-18, 18-24, or 24+ months) and compared to the preinjection average IOP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For patients with DME, average preinjection IOP was 15.7 mmHg. At 24+ months after injection, the average IOP was 15.2 (P = 0.68) for patients receiving 1-3 injections, 16.8 (P = 0.23) for 4-6 injections, and 14.4 (P = 0.66) for 7-9 injections. For patients with AMD, average initial IOP was 15.6 mmHg. At 24+ months after injection, the average IOP was 12.6 (P = 0.97) for 1-3 injections, 14.9 (P = 0.96) for 4-6 injections, 14.8 (P = 0.84) for 7-9 injections, and 15.7 (P = 0.56) for 10+ injections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no increase in IOP over time for AMD or DME patients, regardless of how many injections they received. For patients receiving unilateral injections, there was no increase in IOP in the injected eye when compared to the noninjected eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Ashiyana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nariani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Blake
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Seenu M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hariprasad
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000008:administration & dosage; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C533178:aflibercept; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D000069579:Ranibizumab