Long – Term Intraocular Pressure Changes after Intravitreal Injections

Introduction. Direct drug delivery by intravitreal injection is an essential tool in the treatment of retinal diseases and the studies have demonstrated that patients undergoing treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents may experience sustained and delayed elevation of intraocular pressure. According to literature, the incidence of sustained elevation of intraocular pressure varied from 3.45% - 11.6%. Aim of the Study.To research the changes of intraocular pressure after intravitreal injections in patients with a diagnosis of agerelated macular degeneration, diabetic maculopathy, and retinal vein occlusions. Material and Methods. A prospective study was done in Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia from November 2015 - January 2016. In this study were interviewed and examined 31 patients who had had intravitreal injections. For data analysis, SPSS 23 was used. Results. From 31 patient there were 20 (65.5%) females and 11 (35.5%) males. They were divided into three groups depending on the diagnosis. There were 26 (83.9%) patients with age-related macular degeneration, 3 (9.7%) with diabetic retinopathy and 2 (6.5%) with retinal vein thrombosis. From 31 patient the IOP after intravitreal injections were increased in 21 (67.7%) patient - 13 (41.9%) in the right eye and 10 (32.2%) in the left eye. In both eyes the pressure was increased from 14 to 17 mmHg (14.08 to 17.08 mmHg in the right eye and 14.1 to 17.3 in the left eye). From 6 (19.3%) patients who had glaucoma before intravitreal injections, in 4 (66%) intraocular pressure had increased from 14.7 to 18.5 mmHg in the right eye and from 12.5 to 17 mmHg in the left eye. Conclusions. Patients with previously diagnosed glaucoma had a greater rise in intraocular pressure compared to patients with no glaucoma diagnosis. Further studies with a greater number of patients and identical intraocular pressure measuring method before and after injections are needed to better evaluate the effects of intravitreal injections on intraocular pressure.