ABSTRACT
Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents is increasingly used for the treatment of a wide variety of retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular occlusions, and retinopathy of prematurity. Despite encouraging results in halting the disease and improving the vision, intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents may be associated with systemic adverse events and devastating ocular complications. In this review, we provide an overview of safety data for intravitreal injection of common anti-VEGF agents.
Subject(s)
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/adverse effects , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/adverse effects , Intravitreal Injections/adverse effects , Retinal Diseases/drug therapy , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Cardiovascular Diseases/chemically induced , Eye Diseases/chemically induced , Gastrointestinal Diseases/chemically induced , Hemorrhage/chemically induced , Humans , Kidney Diseases/chemically inducedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intra-silicone injection of bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) after vitrectomy for advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy. METHODS: Bevacizumab was injected into the silicone oil in five pseudophakic eyes of five patients with NVG. The iris neovascularization (INV) and NVG had developed 1.5-4 months after vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade. The main outcome measures were regression of INV, intraocular pressure and visual acuity. RESULTS: In all eyes, INV regressed and intraocular pressure was controlled within 7 days. Visual acuity improved in all eyes. In one patient, INV and NVG recurred 10 weeks after the injection and was successfully treated with a repeat intra-silicone bevacizumab injection. CONCLUSION: Intra-silicone injection of bevacizumab is effective in the treatment of patients with INV and NVG after vitrectomy for advanced proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
Subject(s)
Angiogenesis Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , Diabetic Retinopathy/complications , Glaucoma, Neovascular/drug therapy , Silicone Oils/administration & dosage , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/antagonists & inhibitors , Aged , Angiogenesis Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Monoclonal/administration & dosage , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Bevacizumab , Diabetic Retinopathy/surgery , Female , Glaucoma, Neovascular/etiology , Glaucoma, Neovascular/physiopathology , Humans , Injections, Intraocular/methods , Intraocular Pressure , Male , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Visual Acuity , VitrectomyABSTRACT
AIM: To compare retrobulbar haemodynamics and ipsilateral carotid wall thickness of patients with unilateral non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with their contralateral side. METHODS: Seventeen patients with unilateral NAION participated in this study. By means of Colour Doppler imaging, the blood-flow velocities of the ophthalmic artery were measured. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid and internal carotid arteries were measured using B-mode ultrasonography. Measurements of the affected side were compared with the non-involved side. RESULTS: Flow velocities in the ophthalmic arteries on the side of the eyes with NAION were significantly decreased compared with those on the side of the unaffected eyes (p<0.001). In addition, in all patients, both common and internal carotid artery IMT were significantly greater on the side of the NAION compared with the contralateral side (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: NAION may be associated with decreased retrobulbar flow velocities and increased carotid wall thickness.
