The effects of intravitreal injections on intraocular pressure and retinal nerve fiber layer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy with an exceptionally elevated pigment epithelial detachment

Purpose

To present a distinctive case of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) with an exceptionally elevated pigment epithelial detachment (PED).

Observations

We describe the case of a 48-year-old African-American woman who presented with a substantial lesion in the right eye. Fundus examination revealed an exceptionally elevated lesion extending in the inter-papilla-macular region with multiple dark pigmented spots. Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICGA) in the early phase displayed focal hyperfluorescent spots and a blockage of fluorescence within the lesion, particularly overlying the papillomacular bundle. In the late phase, hyperfluorescent spots within the lesion became evident, with a hyperfluorescent outline of the lesion indicating vascularization. Optical coherence tomography in the right eye disclosed an exceptionally elevated PED temporal to the optic nerve with an elevation of more than 2500 μm, along with subretinal fluid and trace intraretinal fluid.

Conclusions and importance

Multimodal imaging unveiled an atypical case of PCV featuring an exceptionally extensive polypoidal lesion overlying the papillomacular bundle with choroidal neovascularization. Given the presence of a highly conspicuous, elevated PED, it was felt that the risk of retinal pigment epithelium tear was high either with anti-VEGF therapy or even due to natural history. In this scenario, the initial treatment choice was photodynamic therapy rather than intravitreal anti-VEGF injection, which led to complete regression with excellent visual acuity.

A proof-of-concept study of a prototype needle that mitigates intraocular pressure rise following intravitreal injection

PURPOSE

To determine the feasibility of a prototype needle that enhances vitreous reflux (VR) to control intraocular pressure (IOP) in intravitreal injection (IVI).

METHODS

We created an eye model to compare IVI using a standard 30-G needle with four different versions of a 30-G prototype needle with one to four surface grooves that enhanced VR. We injected 50, 70, and 100 µl saline through porcine sclera or 460-µm-thick rubber and measured the peak and 3-second pressure before we extracted the needle and measured the 10-second pressure.

RESULTS

50-µl injection through sclera with the standard needle resulted in mean (SD) pressure of 58.6 (3.8) mmHg at peak, 52.8 (4.7) mmHg at 3 s, and 39.6 (18.0) mmHg at 10 s. The prototype needle lowered the pressure; four grooves resulted in mean (SD) pressure of 29.4 (5.6) mmHg at peak, 22.0 (3.7) mmHg at 3 s, and 7.2 (6.6) mmHg at 10 s. 70-µl and 100-µl injections through sclera with the standard needle resulted in mean (SD) pressure of 68.8 (3.6) and 86.0 (6.0) mmHg at peak. Similar to 50-µl injection, the prototype needle lowered the pressure for 70-µl and 100-µl injections. At 10 s, we observed varying leakage at the injection site for sclera but not for rubber.

CONCLUSIONS

The study provides proof of concept for a needle design for which surface grooves enhance VR and counteract the effect of IVI on IOP. The safety and efficacy of the prototype needle must be studied further in a clinical trial.

Impact of Intra-Retinal Fluids on Changes in Retinal Ganglion Cell and Nerve Fiber Layers in Neovascular AMD under Anti-VEGF Therapy

Purpose: To investigate the influence of intraretinal fluid (IRF) on change in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL) and thickness in patients with naive neovascular AMD under anti-VEGF treatment. Design: post hoc analysis. Methods: 97 eyes of 83 patients on continuous therapy with intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) and a follow-up of 24 months were included. RGCL and RNFL thickness in the perifoveal (-O), parafoveal (PF), and nasal areas and number of injections (IVI) were recorded before the first IVI as well as 1 and 2 years after initiating treatment and compared longitudinally and between groups with and without IRF. Results: The group with IRF at baseline had a higher RNFL thickness at baseline and showed a significant reduction in RNFL-PF between baseline and first and second follow-ups (p < 0.001) but not between first and second follow-ups. The group without IRF showed no significant reduction in RNFL over time. The presence of IRF was not associated with a reduction in RNFL-O or RNFL-nasal. RGCL thickness decreased significantly in both groups with and without IRF after 2 years. Number of IVIs showed no significant correlation to RNFL or RGCL after stratification for the presence of IRF. Conclusions: The presence of IRF has a significant influence on RNFL thickness at baseline as well as on its changes over time during anti-VEGF therapy. The preoperative presence of IRF should be considered when comparing changes in RNFL thickness after IVI.

Biophysics of ophthalmic medications during spaceflight: Principles of ocular fluid dynamics and pharmacokinetics in microgravity

As spaceflight becomes increasingly accessible and expansive to humanity, it is becoming ever more essential to consider the treatment of various eye diseases in these challenging environments. This paper delves into the increasing fascination with interplanetary travel and its implications for health management in varying environments. It specifically discusses the pharmacological management of ocular diseases, focusing on two key delivery methods: topical eye drops and intravitreal injections. The paper explores how microgravity impacts the administration of these treatments, a vital aspect in understanding drug delivery in space. An extensive analysis is presented on the pharmacokinetics of eye medications, examining the interaction between pharmaceuticals and ocular tissues in zero gravity. The goal of the paper is to bridge the understanding of fluid dynamics, microgravity and the human physiological systems to pave the way for innovative solutions faced by individuals in microgravity.

Microglia in retinal angiogenesis and diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy has a high probability of causing visual impairment or blindness throughout the disease progression and is characterized by the growth of new blood vessels in the retina at an advanced, proliferative stage. Microglia are a resident immune population in the central nervous system, known to play a crucial role in regulating retinal angiogenesis in both physiological and pathological conditions, including diabetic retinopathy. Physiologically, they are located close to blood vessels and are essential for forming new blood vessels (neovascularization). In diabetic retinopathy, microglia become widely activated, showing a distinct polarization phenotype that leads to their accumulation around neovascular tufts. These activated microglia induce pathogenic angiogenesis through the secretion of various angiogenic factors and by regulating the status of endothelial cells. Interestingly, some subtypes of microglia simultaneously promote the regression of neovascularization tufts and normal angiogenesis in neovascularization lesions. Modulating the state of microglial activation to ameliorate neovascularization thus appears as a promising potential therapeutic approach for managing diabetic retinopathy.

Elevated VEGF-A Levels in the Aqueous Humor of Patients With Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

The purpose of the current study was to compare the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) levels in the aqueous humor of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and non-glaucomatous eyes and reveal any potential statistically significant correlations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was an observational cross-sectional study. Aqueous humor samples (50-100 μl) were collected under aseptic conditions, from the anterior chamber at the start of glaucoma or cataract surgery. The levels of VEGF-A were measured using a multiplex bead-based immunoassay.

RESULTS

Aqueous humor samples were obtained from 76 participants: 39 with POAG and 36 with age-related cataracts as controls. VEGF-A levels were significantly elevated in the POAG group (166.37±110.04 pg/ml, p=0.011) compared to the control group (119.02±49.09 pg/ml). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that VEGF-A had significant prognostic ability for POAG (AUC=0.67; p=0.006). An optimal cut-off for VEGF-A was found to be 148.5 pg/ml with a sensitivity of 54%, specificity of 81.1%, positive prognostic value (PPV) of 75% and negative prognostic value (NPV) of 62.5%. Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for sex and age, patients with VEGF-A higher than 148.5 pg/ml had almost 10 times greater likelihood for POAG.

CONCLUSION

VEGF-A is elevated in patients with POAG and can potentially have a prognostic ability for these patients.

In Vitro/Ex Vivo Release Study of a Ground Umbilical Cord Matrix Loaded with Dexamethasone

Eye drops containing steroids and antibiotics are widely used to treat a large range of ocular diseases of the ocular surface. They require frequent instillation or a high dosage, which can affect quality of life. We developed a biomaterial from human umbilical cord that can be loaded with drugs before being placed in the inferior conjunctival fornix. In the present work, this viro-inactivated, freeze-dried, and sterile foam was loaded with dexamethasone phosphate. We studied the release kinetic of 100 mg of biomaterial loaded with 100 µg of dexamethasone phosphate. Assays have shown that the product can be loaded with 100 µg of dexamethasone and allows a progressive release over time for at least 48 h. In addition, when compared with the instillation of the same dexamethasone quantity (100 µg), instilled regularly via eye-drop solution at 0.79 mg/mL, the drug penetration through corneal tissues was better with the dexamethasone-loaded biomaterial.

Effect of intravitreal injections due to neovascular age-related macular degeneration on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and minimum rim width: a cross sectional study

PURPOSE

The present study tested the hypothesis that repeated anti-VEGF injections are associated with reduced retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and minimum rim width (MRW) of the optic nerve head.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty-six patients with a history of intravitreal injections due to neovascular age-related macular degeneration were included. RNFL and MRW were measured using optical coherence tomography (Spectralis OCT, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany).

RESULTS

Mean global RNFL was 90.62 μm and both RNFL as well as MRW significantly decreased with advanced age (p = 0.005 and p = 0.019, respectively). Correlating for the number of injections, no significant impact on RNFL was found globally (p = 0.642) or in any of the sectors. In contrast, however, global MRW was significantly reduced with increasing numbers of intravitreal injections (p = 0.012). The same holds true when adjusted for the confounding factor age (RNFL p = 0.566 and MRW p = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that repeated intravitreal injections due to choroidal neovascularization seem to have a deleterious effect on MRW but not on RNFL. This suggests that MRW is a more sensitive marker than RNFL for evaluating the effect of frequent intravitreal injections on the optic nerve head since it seems to be the first structure affected.

A prospective observation of influence of anti-VEGF on optic disc vasculature in nAMD patients

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the short-term changes in relatively normal retinal vessels following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in nAMD patients, an area that currently represents a research gap.

METHODS

In this prospective study, we enrolled patients newly diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and received standardized monthly anti-VEGF therapy for three months. Follow-ups were conducted at baseline and 1-week, 1-month, 2-months and 3-months post first injection. Assessment indicators included radial peripapillary capillary vascular density (RPC-VD) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in different optic disk regions using optical coherence tomography angiography, as well as intraocular pressure (IOP).

RESULTS

68 nAMD patients (68 eyes) were included in this study. Significant reductions of RPC-VD and increases of RNFL thickness primarily in the nasal regions were observed 1-week post anti-VEGF (adjusted P < 0.05). Significant negative correlations were found between 1-week changes in RPC-VD and RNFL thickness in the nasal sectors (P < 0.05). From 1 to 3 months post-injection, RPC-VD and RNFL thickness essentially returned to baseline levels. Throughout the follow-up periods, IOP remained stable (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Anti-VEGF treatments transiently influence the relatively normal retinal vessels, which might lead to nerve fiber edema, predominantly on the nasal side of the optic disk.

Incident glaucoma and ocular hypertension after periocular and intravitreal steroid injections: a claims-based analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study aims to determine the incidence and risk of open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT) following ocular steroid injections using healthcare claims data.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed deidentified insurance claims data from the IBM MarketScan Database to identify 19 156 adult patients with no prior history of glaucoma who received ocular steroid injections between 2011 and 2020. Patient demographics and steroid treatment characteristics were collected. Postinjection glaucoma/OHT development was defined as a new diagnosis of glaucoma/OHT, initiation of glaucoma drops, and/or surgical or laser glaucoma treatment. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the risk of glaucoma/OHT development within 5 years after first steroid injection.

RESULTS

Overall, 3932 (20.5%) patients were diagnosed with new glaucoma/OHT, 3345 (17.5%) started glaucoma drops and 435 (2.27%) required a laser or surgical glaucoma procedure within 5 years of first steroid injection. Triamcinolone subconjunctival injections were associated with a lower risk of glaucoma/OHT development than retrobulbar or intravitreal steroid injections (p<0.001, HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.79), whereas the 0.59 mg fluocinolone acetonide intravitreal implant had the highest risk of glaucoma/OHT development (p=0.001, HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.34 to 3.02). The risk of glaucoma/OHT development was also higher for patients receiving multiple steroid injections (p<0.001), with the largest increase in risk occurring after three total steroid injections.

CONCLUSION

Patients receiving ocular steroid injections are at risk of developing glaucoma/OHT, even with no prior glaucoma/OHT diagnosis or treatment. Patients should be closely monitored for the development of glaucoma following ocular steroid injections, particularly in the setting of intravitreal and/or repeated steroid administration.

The effect of baseline intraocular pressure and anterior segment parameters on intraocular pressure after intravitreal bevacizumab injection

PURPOSE

We aimed to compare the predictive effect of pre-injection intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior segment parameters on post-injection IOP values after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NVAMD) in phakic and pseudophakic patient groups.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study included 65 eyes of 65 treatment-naive NVAMD patients. Patients were divided into two groups according to their lens status (35 phakic and 30 pseudophakic patients). Pre-injection IOP, anterior segment parameters measured with PENTACAM, and post-injection IOP values measured at the 5th minute were recorded. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to recognise the predictive effect of pre-injection IOP and anterior segment parameters on post-injection IOP for each group.

RESULTS

Multivariate regression analyses showed that the decrease in anterior chamber depth (ACD), and the increase in pre-injection IOP were significantly correlated with higher post-injection IOP in the phakic patient group (p = 0.019 and 0.031; respectively). No correlation was found in the pseudophakic patient group.

CONCLUSION

Pre-injection ACD and IOP values may be predictive of higher post-injection IOP in phakic patients. Preoperative assessment of these parameters could be beneficial in patients at risk of glaucoma.

Effect of Repeated Intravitreal Injections in Glaucoma Spectrum Diseases

Purpose

To evaluate whether repeated intravitreal injections (IVI) with an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent are associated with glaucomatous progression in eyes with glaucoma spectrum diseases (GSD).

Methods

Single-center, retrospective, longitudinal study of patients with bilateral and similar GSD who: (1) received ≥8 IVI in only one eye during the study period; (2) had ≥2 retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) measurements obtained by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) at least 12 months apart. The primary outcome was the absolute RNFL thickness change, comparing injected and fellow uninjected eyes. Linear mixed effects models were constructed, including a multivariable model.

Results

Sixty-eight eyes from 34 patients were included, 34 injected and 34 fellow uninjected eyes. Average baseline age was 67.68±21.77 years with a follow-up of 3.66±1.89 years and 25.12±14.49 IVI. RNFL thickness decreased significantly from 80.92±15.78 to 77.20±17.35 μm (p<0.001; -1.18±1.93 μm/year) in injected eyes and from 79.95±17.91 to 76.61±17.97 μm (p<0.001; -1.07±0.98 μm/year) in uninjected eyes. In a multivariable linear mixed model of injected eyes, only higher baseline RNFL thickness (p < 0.001) significantly predicted higher absolute RNFL thickness loss. Neither absolute RNFL thickness variation (p=0.716) nor RNFL rate (p=0.779) was significantly different between paired injected and uninjected eyes. Absolute IOP variation was not significantly different between groups (16.62±4.77 to 15.09±4.34 mmHg in injected eyes and 17.68±5.01 to 14.50±3.39 mmHg in fellow uninjected eyes; p=0.248). The proportion of eyes receiving glaucoma medical treatment increased significantly in both groups (55.9% to 76.5% in injected eyes; p=0.039; 58.8% to 76.5% in uninjected eyes; p = 0.031). The number of glaucoma medications also increased significantly in both groups (1.03±1.11 to 1.59±1.18 glaucoma medications in injected eyes; p=0.003; 1.09±1.11 to 1.56±1.19 glaucoma medications in uninjected eyes; p=0.003).

Conclusion

Repeated IVI do not seem to accelerate glaucomatous progression. Future studies with a longer follow-up are needed.

VEGF levels in the aqueous humor of patients with primary open angle glaucoma: A systematic review and a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To compare the VEGF levels in the aqueous humor of patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) and non-glaucomatous eyes and reveal any potential statistically significant correlations.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, from inception to December 31, 2021. Key search terms included VEGF and Glaucoma. All relevant studies that evaluated the VEGF levels in patients with POAG and in the control group were included in this systematic review. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies (PRISMA-DTA) guidelines were followed. Data were extracted independently by 2 authors. Heterogeneity was statistically quantified by Q, H, and I2 statistics, and a meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

Seven cross-sectional studies were included in the meta-analysis. 144 eyes were enrolled in the POAG group and 162 eyes in the control group. The random effect model showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (SMD =0.284, 95% CI = -0.173 to 0.741; P = 0.223), but we noticed a trend towards elevated VEGF levels in the aqueous humor of POAG patients. Significant heterogeneity was detected (I2 = 74.1%, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review and meta-analysis indicates a trend towards elevated VEGF-A levels in the aqueous humor of patients with POAG and suggests a potential neuroprotective role of VEGF in patients with POAG. Future studies are required to evaluate the exact role of VEGF in POAG.

Risk of transient vision loss after intravitreal aflibercept using vial-prepared vs. the novel prefilled syringe formulation

Purpose

To compare the risk of transient vision loss (TVL) probably attributable to a severe intraocular pressure spike after intravitreal aflibercept application using the novel prefilled syringe (PFS) vs. the established vial system (VS).

Methods

Datasets of the intravitreal injection service of the Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich and the Technical University Munich, Germany, were screened for documentation of TVL after intravitreal injection of aflibercept. The observation period included two full months prior to the introduction of the novel PFS and two months afterwards. TVL was defined as loss of perception of hand motion for a duration of >30 s.

Results

Over a period of four months, 1720 intravitreal injections of aflibercept were administered in 672 patients. There were 842 injections with the old VS, and 878 injections using the novel PFS. Using the VS, TVL was noted during two injections (0.24%) in two patients, as compared to 11 cases of TVL (1.25%) in 10 patients with the PFS (p = 0.015). Using the PFS, patients had a 5.3-fold risk of TVL as compared to the VS (OR: 5.33; 95% CI: 1.2-24.1; p = 0.0298).

Conclusion

There was a more than five-fold risk of TVL using the novel pre-filled aflibercept syringe as compared to the established vial system. During informed consent, this risk should be discussed.

Accuracy, Precision, and Residual Volume of Commonly Used Syringes for Intravitreal Injections and the Impact on Intraocular Pressure

PURPOSE

To compare accuracy, precision, and residual volume of commonly used syringes for intravitreal injections (IVIs) and to assess the intraocular pressure (IOP) rise by variations in volumes delivered.

DESIGN

Experimental laboratory study.

SUBJECTS

No subjects were involved in this study.

METHODS

We tested 8 syringe models with 2 different needle setups, with 2 different solutions (distilled water or glycerin) and target volumes (50 and 70 μL). To obtain the delivered and residual volumes, we weighed the syringe-needle setups with scale before liquid withdrawal, with liquid, and after liquid release. We also created an experimental eye model to determine the transient rise in IOP following stepwise 10-μL increases in injection volumes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Delivered and residual volumes, IOP rise.

RESULTS

We tested a total of 600 syringe-needle setups. Becton Dickinson (BD) Ultra-Fine (0.34 ± 0.28 μL), Zero Residual (1.53 ± 1.15 μL), and Zero Residual Silicone Oil-free (1.40 ± 1.16 μL) syringes showed the lowest residual volume (P < 0.001) in comparison with the others (range: 24.86 ± 1.78 μL for Injekt-F to 51.97 ± 3.37 μL for Omnifix-F). The most accurate setups were (percentage deviation from target volume): Zero Residual Silicone Oil-free (+ 0.70%), Zero Residual 0.3 ml (+ 4.49%), BD Ultra-Fine (+ 7.83%), Injekt-F (9.42%), Norm-Ject (+ 15.88%), Omnifix-F (+ 16.96%), BD Plastipak Brazil (+17.96%), and BD Plastipak Spain syringes (+ 19.41%). There was a statistically significant difference between the Zero Residual Silicone Oil-free syringe and all other syringes (P < 0.0001), except for the Zero Residual 0.3-ml syringe (P = 0.029). The coefficient of variation was low for all syringes. The modeled IOP rise ranged from 32.3 (standard deviation [SD], 1.4) mmHg for 20-μL injection volume to 76.5 (SD, 1.0) mmHg for 80-μL injection volume. For the standard 50-μL injection volume, the peak pressure was 50.7 (SD, 0.1) mmHg, and the pressure rise duration was 28 (SD, 2) minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

There were significant differences in accuracy and residual volume between syringes, whereas they showed a high precision. Volume excess results in a considerable increase in IOP rise after injection. These findings may provide a relevant overview to clinicians and to both device and drug manufacturers regarding pharmacoeconomic, safety, and efficacy issues.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

Safety and tolerability of oral vorolanib for neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration: a phase I, open-label study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral vorolanib for the treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

METHODS

In the dose escalation, participants received ascending doses of oral vorolanib (25-100 mg daily). In the dose expansion, participants received recommended doses (25 and 50 mg daily).

RESULTS

Between March 15, 2015, and January 23, 2019, 41 participants were enrolled in 6 centres in China. At the data cut-off (November 14, 2019), two dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed during dose escalation (one in the 75 mg cohort and one in the 100 mg cohort). The maximum tolerated dose was not reached. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 33 (80.5%) participants, and grade 3 or higher TRAEs occurred in 12 (29.3%) participants. No fatal TRAEs were observed. Increases in the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to Day 360 of +7.7 letters (range, -5-29; n = 41) were observed in participants who were administered vorolanib. Corresponding reductions in mean central subfield thickness (CST) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) area at Day 360 were observed in these three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral administration of vorolanib improved visual outcomes in participants with nAMD with manageable systemic safety profiles.

Ultrasound-Mediated Ocular Drug Delivery: From Physics and Instrumentation to Future Directions

Drug delivery to the anterior and posterior segments of the eye is impeded by anatomical and physiological barriers. Increasingly, the bioeffects produced by ultrasound are being proven effective for mitigating the impact of these barriers on ocular drug delivery, though there does not appear to be a consensus on the most appropriate system configuration and operating parameters for this application. In this review, the fundamental aspects of ultrasound physics most pertinent to drug delivery are presented; the primary phenomena responsible for increased drug delivery efficacy under ultrasound sonication are discussed; an overview of common ocular drug administration routes and the associated ocular barriers is also given before reviewing the current state of the art of ultrasound-mediated ocular drug delivery and its potential future directions.

Exploring the Relationship between Anti-VEGF Therapy and Glaucoma: Implications for Management Strategies

A short-term increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) is a common side effect after intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy, but a sustained increase in IOP with the development of secondary glaucoma has also been reported in some studies after repeated intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. The aim of this review is to present and discuss the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and factors contributing to a sustained rise in IOP, as well as treatment strategies for patients at risk. Close monitoring and adjustable IOP-lowering treatment are recommended for high-risk patients, including those with glaucoma, angle-closure anomalies, ocular hypertension or family history of glaucoma; patients receiving a high number of injections or at shorter intervals; and patients with capsulotomy. Strategies are needed to identify patients at risk in a timely manner and to prevent sustained elevation of IOP.

Clinical Features Associated with Acute Elevated Intraocular Pressure After Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injections

Purpose

To study the effects of intravitreal injection (IVI) of anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) agents on intraocular pressure (IOP) and find associations with acute pressure spikes.

Methods

This was a three-month, prospective study of patients receiving outpatient IVI of anti-VEGF agents for diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) at the Acuity Eye Group Medical Centers. IOP was measured pre- and post-injection at 10-minute intervals up to 50 minutes after injection with a handheld tonometer. Patients with an IOP greater than 35 mmHg at 30 minutes received an anterior chamber paracentesis (ACP), while patients below 35 mmHg were monitored without intervention.

Results

A total of 617 patients (51% female, 49% male) received IVI for DR (n = 199), AMD (n = 355), and RVO (n = 63). ACP was performed in 17 patients. Average pre-injection IOP was 16 ± 4 compared to 24 ± 7 mmHg for the non-ACP vs ACP group, respectively (mean ± standard deviation), p < 0.0001. IOP returned to baseline in 98% of patients at 50 minutes. A diagnosis of glaucoma and glaucoma suspect was more prevalent in the ACP group compared to the non-ACP group, 82.3% vs 14.2% and 17.6% vs 9.0%, respectively, p < 0.0001 and p > 0.05. Patients with a pre-injection IOP >25 mmHg and a history of glaucoma had a 58.3% rate of ACP. A 31-gauge needle had a higher mean increase in IOP from baseline compared to 30-gauge needle, p < 0.0001.

Conclusion

IOP spikes are most significant in the first 10 minutes after IVI but typically resolve within the first hour. However, utilizing a smaller 31-gauge IVI in patients with a glaucoma history and pre-injection IOP >25 mmHg may be associated with significant IOP spikes lasting longer than 30 minutes.

Immediate Rise in Intraocular Pressure After First-Time Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab

Objective This study aims to report an immediate change in intraocular pressure (IOP) after the first injection of bevacizumab. Materials and methods An interventional case series was carried out at Isra Postgraduate Institute of Ophthalmology, Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital, Karachi, from November 2018 to April 2020. All patients with various chorioretinal diseases requiring anti-VEGF treatment were included in the study. Patients with a history of previous anti-VEGF or steroid injections and personal or family history of glaucoma were excluded. Bevacizumab in a dose of 1.25 mg (0.05 ml) was injected intravitreally under topical anesthesia maintaining sterile aseptic conditions in the operating room. IOP was checked one hour prior to the injection, and hourly monitoring of it was continued for the next six hours. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics to compare the mean IOP readings before and after injection. Results A total of 191 eyes of 147 patients were included in the study. Among them, 92 (62.58%) were male and 55 (37.41%) were female with a mean age of 45.5 ± 8.8 years. The mean pre-injection IOP was measured as 12.12 ± 2.11 mmHg. The frequency of IOP elevation of ˃ 21 mmHg was observed in 169 (88.5%) eyes at five minutes, 104 (54.5%) eyes at 30 minutes, 33 (17.3%) eyes at one hour, and 16 (8.4%) eyes at two hours. The raised mean post-operative IOP was 30.44 ± 6.53 mmHg at five minutes, 26.27 ± 4.65 mmHg at 30 minutes, 26.12 ± 3.31 mmHg at one hour, and 25.63 ± 3.03 mmHg at two hours. The IOP reduced to pre-injection value at three hours measuring 12.12 ± 2.11 mmHg and continued to stay at that level for the next three hours. Conclusions The majority of the eyes receiving first-time intravitreal bevacizumab injection showed a significant increase in IOP level within five minutes to two hours post-injection.

A Multifunctional Hybrid Nanocarrier for Non-Invasive siRNA Delivery to the Retina

Drug therapy for retinal diseases (e.g., age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness) is generally performed by invasive intravitreal injection because of poor drug delivery caused by the blood-retinal barrier (BRB). This study aimed to develop a nanocarrier for the non-invasive delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to the posterior segment of the eye (i.e., the retina) by eyedrops. To this end, we prepared a hybrid nanocarrier based on a multifunctional peptide and liposomes, and the composition was optimized. A cytoplasm-responsive stearylated peptide (STR-CH2R4H2C) was used as the multifunctional peptide because of its superior ability to enhance the complexation, cell permeation, and intracellular dynamics of siRNA. By adding STR-CH2R4H2C to the surface of liposomes, intracellular uptake increased regardless of the liposome surface charge. The STR-CH2R4H2C-modified cationic nanocarrier demonstrated significant siRNA transfection efficiency with no cytotoxicity, enhanced siRNA release from endosomes, and effectively suppressed vascular endothelial growth factor expression in rat retinal pigment epithelium cells. The 2.0 mol% STR-CH2R4H2C-modified cationic nanocarrier enhanced intraocular migration into the retina after instillation into rat eyes.

Incidence of ocular hypertension after anti-VEGF injections: examining the effect of drug filtration and silicone-free syringes

OBJECTIVE

To examine the difference in incidence of ocular hypertension (OHT) following the introduction of filtered anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medication in silicone-free syringes.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS

A retrospective review of consecutive treatment-naive patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in a group practice was performed. Data from the cohort receiving nonfiltered anti-VEGF in insulin syringes (IS group) was collected from June 2015. Data from the cohort receiving filtered anti-VEGF in silicone-free syringes (SFS group) was collected from June 2019. Follow up data were collected at 1 year. Exclusion criteria included prior anti-VEGF treatment, known glaucoma or diagnosis of glaucoma suspect before anti-VEGF treatment, neovascular glaucoma, steroid use, or vitrectomy during follow-up. Primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21 mmHg and IOP ≥ 30 mm Hg at any follow-up visit. The use of IOP lowering therapy was also recorded.

RESULTS

The mean age (71 ± 13 years), mean number of injections (9.6 ± 2.7), and median follow-up time (392 ± 57 days) were similar between groups. The incidence of IOP ≥ 21 mm Hg was 34% (34/100) in the IS group and 15% (15/100) in the SFS group (p = 0.025). The incidence of IOP ≥ 30 mm Hg was 8% (8/100) in the IS group and 0% (0/100) in the SFS group (p =0.004). The incidence of IOP-lowering therapy was 13% in the IS group and 0% in the SFS group (p =0.0002).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of OHT and treatment with IOP-lowering therapy significantly decreased after the introduction of filtered anti-VEGF medication and silicone-free syringes.

Peripapillary and macular microvasculature in neovascular age-related macular degeneration in long-term and recently started anti-VEGF therapy versus healthy controls

Aim

To investigate the peripapillary and macular microvasculature in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in recently started versus long-term anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy and healthy controls.

Methods

Eyes with nAMD treated in a treat-and-extend regimen were assigned to group 1 (<5 injections) or 2 (≥20 injections) whereas group 3 constituted the healthy age-matched controls. Blood flow signals were acquired using PLEX^® Elite 9000 swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) of the macular and peripapillary regions. Mean ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness values were quantified using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Results

Including 80 eyes whereof 40 controls, macular superficial perfusion density was significantly reduced in group 1 and 2 compared to controls (p < 0.001; p = 0.010) without a difference between groups 1 and 2. Peripapillary perfusion parameters did not correlate with post-operative intraocular pressure (IOP) or number of anti-VEGF injections. Mean peripapillary flux index was significantly lower in group 2 than in controls (p = 0.023) and significantly decreased in the nasal quadrants for both AMD groups compared to group 3 (p = 0.013; p < 0.001). Mean peripapillary perfusion density was significantly reduced in both AMD groups compared to controls (0.515 ± 0.02 versus 0.556 ± 0.03, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Frequency of anti-VEGF treatment in nAMD and post-operative IOP showed no correlation with peripapillary perfusion parameters, but anti-VEGF treated nAMD patients exhibited partly altered peripapillary perfusion compared to healthy controls. Reduced macular perfusion density of the inner retina in anti-VEGF treated nAMD compared to healthy controls might be discussed as an anti-VEGF treatment effect or a characteristic of nAMD.

Prophylactic intraocular pressure lowering measures in anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation following repeat intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections (IVI) may pose a risk to the integrity of the retinal nerve fiber (RNFL). This meta-analysis investigates the role of IOP-lowering interventions such as an anterior chamber paracentesis (ACP) and IOP-lowering medications on the IOP in patients undergoing IVIs. MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched up to February, 2021. Studies investigating IOP-lowering interventions in patients undergoing IVI versus controls were included. The primary outcome was the IOP in the short- and long-term post-IVI. Secondary outcomes were changes in the RNFL thickness and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). ACP at time of anti-VEGF injection significantly lowered IOP immediately post anti-VEGF (WMD: -27.98 mm Hg, P < 0.001). Patients in the ACP group also had significantly thicker RNFL compared to control (WMD: 2.07 um, P < 0.00001) at median follow-up of 16.5 months. IOP-lowering medications (on the day of injection or in the long-term) significantly reduced IOP up to 30 minutes after injection (WMD: -3.31 mm Hg, P = 0.003). This effect was statistically significant between the 2 arms up to 1 month follow-up. There was no difference in BCVA in intervention versus controls. ACP reduces immediate IOP spikes post-IVI and preserves the RNFL in the short- and longterms IOP-lowering medications also reduce IOP spike, with limited data on RNFL thickness.

Glaucoma progression in patients receiving intravitreal anti‐VEGF treatment for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate how often glaucoma and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) occur in the same patient and to evaluate whether glaucoma progression is faster in eyes treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF medications for nAMD.

METHODS

This single-centre retrospective real-world data (RWD) consists of medical records of 6314 glaucoma and 2166 nAMD patients treated in 2008-2017 in Tays Eye Centre, Finland. To study glaucoma progression, changes in visual fields (mean deviation [MD], dB/year), IOP (mmHg/year) and fundus photographs (progression, yes/no) were compared in glaucoma eyes with and without anti-VEGF treatment for nAMD and ≥1 year follow-up.

RESULTS

During the 10-year period, 147 patients with glaucoma received intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for nAMD corresponding to 2% of glaucoma and 7% of nAMD patients. The mean change in MD was -0.70 dB/year (SD 1.8) vs. -0.27 dB/year (SD 1.7) (p = 0.027) in glaucoma eyes with (n = 37) and without (n = 4304) anti-VEGF injections, respectively. In patients with bilateral glaucoma and unilateral nAMD treated with anti-VEGF injections (n = 20), MD declined at -0.62 dB/year (SD 1.9) vs 0.33 dB/year (SD 1.5) (p = 0.654), and glaucoma progression was detected in 14/20 vs 10/20 (p = 0.219) fundus photographs in eyes with anti-VEGF treatment compared with their untreated fellow eyes.

CONCLUSION

nAMD and glaucoma were found co-existing in the same eye at rates that were similar to the age-corrected prevalence of the two diseases in the general population. Our results suggest that intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for nAMD may accelerate glaucoma progression.

Risk, Prevalence, and Progression of Glaucoma in Eyes With Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated With Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections

PURPOSE

To examine the risk, prevalence, and progression of glaucoma development in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) eyes receiving intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections compared to controls.

DESIGN

Retrospective clinical cohort study.

METHODS

Retrospective review of eyes receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2013, for exudative AMD. Age- and sex-matched control groups of eyes included eyes with nonexudative AMD (NEAMD) and no AMD. Eyes with a diagnosis of glaucoma or glaucoma suspect were reviewed for injection details, type and date of glaucoma diagnosis, glaucoma treatments, standard automated perimetry (SAP), and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Qualitative progression was determined by indication of glaucoma progression in provider notes. Quantitative progression was assessed based on change in mean deviation (MD) on SAP, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness on SD-OCT, and intraocular pressure (IOP).

RESULTS

There were 707 eyes of 504 patients treated with anti-VEGF injections and 1008 eyes in the NEAMD and no-AMD cohorts. There was no difference in glaucoma or suspect prevalence at initial presentation between eyes treated with injections and NEAMD (6.9% vs 9.7%, P = .22) or no-AMD controls (vs 8.5%, P = .55). There was no difference in cumulative 5-year probability of new glaucoma diagnosis after anti-VEGF injections compared to NEAMD (1.9% vs 1.0%, P = .69) or no-AMD controls (vs 1.6%, P = .88). There was no difference in qualitative progression of glaucoma in the injection cohort vs NEAMD (P = .19) or no-AMD controls (P = .61). The rate of MD change in injection eyes was similar to NEAMD eyes (P = .74) but greater than no-AMD eyes (P = .02). Eyes receiving injections required more topical glaucoma medications compared with NEAMD (P = .03) and more glaucoma laser treatments compared with no-AMD controls (P = .009). Eyes receiving injections did not require more frequent incisional glaucoma surgery compared with NEAMD (21.0% vs 15.0%, P = .95) or no-AMD controls (vs 10.0%, P = .10).

CONCLUSION

Eyes treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for exudative AMD did not have increased risk of developing glaucoma compared with controls. Of those with a glaucoma diagnosis, exudative AMD eyes receiving injections required a greater number of topical glaucoma medications compared with NEAMD eyes and had a greater rate of MD loss than no-AMD controls.

Incidence of severe rise in intraocular pressure after intravitreous injection of aflibercept with prefilled syringes

Our aim was to analyze the intraocular pressure (IOP) changes following different intravitreous injection (IVI) procedures with or without prefilled syringes (PFS) and to elaborate their possible causes. Clinical study and laboratory assessment. 173 eyes of 141 patients. The IOP was prospectively measured pre- and postoperatively in three groups of patients receiving IVI either with ranibizumab (RP), aflibercept PFS (AP) or aflibercept vials (AV). The AP emptying volume (EV) was assessed using 40 aflibercept PFS vials: the plunger was aligned precisely (normal volume, NV) or right below the indication line (high volume, HV) and the drug was ejected with (wP) or without forced pressure (nP). Primary outcome was post-treatment IOP with type of IVI and pre-treatment IOP as fixed factors. Secondary outcome was identification of possibly confounding factors (age, sex, pathology, presence of pseudophakia, spherical error, and number of injections) and IOP > 30 mmHg post-treatment. An IOP rise above 30 mmHg was observed in 8/38 (22%), 16/51 (31%) and 35/86 (41%) cases in the RP, AV and AP groups, respectively (p = 0.129). Pre-treatment IOP was the only predictive variable for IOP rise (p < 0.001). The EV values in the NVnP, NVwP, HVnP and HVwP groups were 56.06 ± 10.32, 70.69 ± 4.56, 74.22 ± 7.41 and 81.63 ± 3.67 µl, respectively (p < 0.001). We observed a marked, although not significantly higher incidence of IOP elevations with the aflibercept PFS. One possible reason may be the error-proneness of administering the correct volume with the AP. Caution should be taken when using the aflibercept PFS in order to prevent potential optic nerve damage in cases with marked elevation in IOP.

A narrative review on the association of high intraocular pressure and glaucoma in patients with retinal vein occlusion

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a major cause of vision loss and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), high ocular perfusion pressure, and glaucoma are known ophthalmic risk factors for RVO. The aim of this paper is to provide the update on the association and management of high IOP/glaucoma and RVO.

METHODS

A literature review was performed in PubMed and Medline until May 2022 utilizing specific keywords and cross-matched reference lists.

KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS

The association of RVO with high IOP/glaucoma may be attributed to retinal ganglion cell loss due to retinal ischemia in high IOP and glaucoma. As new modalities showed, decreased optic disc perfusion, reduced density of blood vessels in the optic nerve head of glaucoma patients, changes in the peripapillary microvascular parameters, and decreased retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of the optic nerve head of eyes with RVO suggest a common pathway between RVO and glaucoma. Literature suggests the close follow up for glaucoma development among patients with non-arteriovenous (AV) crossing (optic cup or optic nerve sited) RVO in fellow eye and management of elevated IOP among RVO cases treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies/corticosteroids and those with preexisting primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

CONCLUSIONS

Determining potential patient responses to treatment and considering therapeutic options are challenging among patients with RVO and glaucoma. However, IOP lowering managements in preventing IOP spikes in patients with preexisting glaucoma and early treatment of macular edema in eyes with RVO is recommended.

Protein and polypeptide mediated delivery to the eye

Hybrid or recombinant protein-polymers, peptide-based biomaterials, and antibody-targeted therapeutics are widely explored for various ocular conditions and vision correction. They have been noted for their potential biocompatibility, potency, adaptability, and opportunities for sustained drug delivery. Unique to peptide and protein therapeutics, their production by cellular translation allows their precise modification through genetic engineering. To a greater extent than drug delivery to other systems, delivery to the eye can benefit from the combination of locally-targeted administration and protein-based specificity. Consequently, a range of delivery platforms and administration methods have been exploited to address the ocular delivery of peptide and protein biomaterials. This review discusses a sample of preclinical and clinical opportunities for peptide-based drug delivery to the eye.

23G Minimally Invasive Vitrectomy Combined with Glaucoma Drainage Valve Implantation and Phacoemulsification Cataract Extraction for Neovascular Glaucoma Secondary to Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy with Vitreous Hemorrhage

Objective

To evaluate the clinical efficacy of the combined application of 23G minimally invasive vitrectomy, glaucoma drainage valve implantation, and phacoemulsification cataract extraction in the treatment of neovascular glaucoma (NVG) secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) combined with vitreous hemorrhage (VH).

Methods

Eighty-three patients (91 eyes) with PDR diagnosed as NVG phase III complicated with VH from June 2018 to May 2020 were selected as the study subjects. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A was treated with 23G minimally invasive vitrectomy combined with glaucoma drainage valve implantation; group B was given 23G minimally invasive vitrectomy combined with phacoemulsification cataract extraction; and group C was treated with 23G minimally invasive vitrectomy combined with glaucoma drainage valve implantation and phacoemulsification cataract extraction. The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and iris neovascularization (INV) scores were recorded and compared among the 3 groups before and after operation, and then the postoperative pain relief and complications were observed.

Results

Through observation, there was no significant difference in the UCVA, IOP, and INV scores in the 3 groups before operation. After the operation, the UCVA, IOP, and INV scores of the 3 groups were significantly lower than those before operation. After operation, the UCVA of the 3 groups increased first and then decreased, and it improved most significantly in the 3rd month after operation and decreased in the 4th month after operation. There were significant differences in UCVA among the 3 groups at each time point after operation. From the 1st day to the 6th month after operation, the IOP of the 3 groups showed an upward trend, and there was no significant difference among the 3 groups in IOP at each time point after operation. At the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months after operation, the INV score of group A and group B was higher than that of group C. There was no significant difference in the INV score between group A and group B. The incidence of complications was not significantly different among the 3 groups.

Conclusion

23G minimally invasive vitrectomy, glaucoma drainage valve implantation, and phacoemulsification cataract extraction can effectively improve the UCVA, IOP, and INV scores of NVG secondary to PDR with VH, and the combined application of the 3 methods has better security.

Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment for Macular Edema in Eyes with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion with vs Without Glaucoma – Does Glaucoma Affect Visual Outcome in Eyes with BRVO-ME After antiVEGF Injections?

Purpose

To compare the therapeutic effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents in eyes with macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO-ME) with glaucoma to those without glaucoma.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study was conducted using the medical records of Mie University Hospital from 2013 to 2017. Patients were recruited if they had received anti-VEGF agents for BRVO-ME treatment and included 30 patients (30 eyes) without glaucoma (G[-] group) and 27 patients (27 eyes) with glaucoma (G[+] group). The central retinal thickness (CRT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 3 months after a single injection of anti-VEGF agents were compared between the two groups.

Results

Before treatment, the mean±standard deviation of the CRT was 514.2±117.3 μm for the G[-] group, which was not significantly different from that for the G[+] group (533.4±171.4 μm). The CRT in the G[-] and G[+] groups significantly reduced to 321.1±114.6 μm and 347.8±134.7 μm, respectively, at 1 month after the injection and to 360.4±159.5 μm and 352.4±151.9 μm, respectively, at 3 months after the injection (P<0.01 for each group). The difference in the degree of CRT reduction between the two groups was not significant. Before treatment, the BCVA was 0.42±0.32 logMAR units in the G[-] group and 0.57±0.33 logMAR units in the G[+] group, showing no significant difference. The BCVA in the G[-] and G[+] groups improved significantly to 0.27±0.26 logMAR units and 0.34±0.42 logMAR units, respectively, at 1 month, and to 0.18±0.20 logMAR units and 0.39±0.34 logMAR units, respectively, at 3 months (P<0.01). The BCVA in the G[-] group was significantly better than that in the G[+] group at 3 months (P=0.02).

Conclusion

The therapeutic response of anti-VEGF agents for BRVO-ME is affected by the presence of glaucoma.

Complications of intravitreal injections: 2022

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review highlights the complications of both intravitreal injection procedure as well as different intravitreal medications including antivascular endothelial growth factors, antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, methotrexate, and steroids. Techniques for reducing rates of endophthalmitis will also be discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Intravitreal vancomycin can cause hemorrhagic occlusive retinal vasculitis resulting in severe vision loss. Intravitreal brolucizumab is associated with intraocular inflammation and retinal vasculitis resulting in significant vision loss. Face mask use by both patient and physician is not associated with increased risk of endophthalmitis and may decrease culture positive endophthalmitis.

SUMMARY

Intravitreal injections continue to be one of the most commonly performed procedures by ophthalmologists. Although the injections are generally well tolerated, sight-threatening complications can occur including endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, and/or retinal vasculitis. Adverse events associated with specific medications are outlined below. Several safety measures have been shown to reduce rates of endophthalmitis, the most concerning complication of this procedure.

Comparison of risks of arterial thromboembolic events and glaucoma with ranibizumab and aflibercept intravitreous injection: A nationwide population‐based cohort study

Background

To compare intravitreal aflibercept injection with intravitreal ranibizumab injection for the risk of major arterial thromboembolic events (ATEs) and glaucoma.

Methods

This retrospective, nationwide cohort study investigated 15 611 and 3867 patients aged >50 years with at least one pharmacy claim for intravitreal ranibizumab injection and aflibercept injection between 2011 and 2016, respectively. The inverse probability of treatment weighting method was performed to adjust the baseline difference between the two groups and the hazard risk of adverse events was estimated using the Cox proportional regression model.

Results

No significant difference was noted between intravitreal ranibizumab and aflibercept injection for arterial thromboembolic risk, including ischemic stroke and acute myocardial infarction, during a 2-year follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.53–1.42; P = .583). Subgroup analyses revealed that patients age >65 years (adjusted HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45–0.92) and those without coronary artery disease (adjusted HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.37–0.95) had significantly lower arterial thromboembolic risk in the aflibercept group than in the ranibizumab group. Additionally, the risk of glaucoma development after intravitreal injection did not significantly differ between the two groups (adjusted HR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.37–1.06; P = .084).

Conclusions

No significant differences in the risk of major ATEs and glaucoma were found between ranibizumab and aflibercept, and aflibercept might be safe for use in elderly patients.

Ganglion Cell Layer Thickness Change in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treated With Anti-VEGF Injections

Purpose:

This work assesses bilateral ganglion cell layer–inner plexiform layer (GCL-IPL) thickness changes in patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF).

Methods:

In this single-center, retrospective, cohort study, the medical records of patients with unilateral nAMD treated with anti-VEGF were reviewed. The treated group included eyes with newly diagnosed nAMD that subsequently underwent treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections. The control group was the fellow eye with dry AMD. Eyes receiving at least 10 intravitreal injections were included. Measurement of GCL-IPL thickness was performed at different time points using spectral domain–optical coherence tomography.

Results:

A total of 216 eyes of 108 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age ± SD was 80.1 ± 10.7 years. Eyes in the treated group underwent a mean ± SD of 20.2 ± 7.2 injections in 21.3 ± 6.8 months. At baseline, average mean ± SD of GCL-IPL thickness was 73.71 ± 8.81 µm and 73.84 ± 8.26 µm in the treated and fellow eye, respectively ( P = .795). After 10 injections the average thickness was 65.41 ± 14.08 µm and 68.77 ± 13.24 µm in the treated and fellow eye, respectively ( P = .007). The absolute decrease in thickness was significantly greater in the treated eye than the fellow eye (mean ± SD, 8.31 ± 11.19 µm vs 5.07 ± 10.83 µm, respectively; P = .002).

Conclusions:

GCL-IPL thickness decreased significantly in the treated group more than in the control group after 10 anti-VEGF injections. The mechanism and clinical significance of this observation warrants further study.

Mid-Term Impact of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Agents on Intraocular Pressure

The effect of intraocular injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on intraocular pressure (IOP) has not been clearly stated. We extracted data from the electronic health records at Dijon University Hospital of 750 patients who were unilaterally injected with anti-VEGF agents between March 2012 and March 2020. These were treatment-naïve patients who had received at least three injections of the same treatment (aflibercept, bevacizumab, or ranibizumab) in one eye only, and had IOP measurements before and after the injections. Fellow untreated eyes were used as comparators. A clinically significant IOP rise was determined as an IOP above 21 mmHg and an increase of at least 6 mmHg compared to baseline, or the need for IOP-lowering agents. We found an overall slight increase in IOP between treated and untreated eyes at 6 months (+0.67 ± 3.33 mmHg, 95% confidence interval 0.33–1.02, p < 0.001). Ranibizumab had a higher final IOP at 1 and 3 months. Age, sex, and the number of injections were not associated with IOP variation. Ranibizumab was associated with a higher rate of increase in clinically significant IOP at 6 months (p = 0.03). Our study confirms that anti-VEGF injections constitute a relatively safe treatment regarding their impact on IOP.

[Ocular hypertension after intravitreal injections]

Intravitreal injections (IVI) of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration with choroidal neovascularization have become much more popular nowadays. Anti-VEGF therapy is generally well-tolerated; however, one of its possible side effects is ocular hypertension - elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) above the accepted norm, but without structural and functional changes in the retina and optic nerve common for glaucoma. The average duration of IOP elevation is 30 to 60 minutes, but it can increase when the patient has primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). There is currently no uniform understanding of the pathogenesis of elevated IOP after IVI, as well as the effect of IOP fluctuations on the functional prognosis and the condition of the ocular tunics. This review considers the main causes and mechanisms of IOP elevation after IVI, analyzes recent publications on the consequences of ocular hypertension for the neurosensory part of the retina and the optic nerve, and examines the conditions for transition of IOP fluctuations into clinically significant ocular hypertension or POAG.

Short-term changes in retinal and choroidal relative flow volume after anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration

The effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents on the native ocular vasculature are poorly understood. This pilot study aimed to assess short-term changes in retinal and choroidal perfusion after anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular exudative age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) using the relative flow volume (RFV) parameter derived from laser speckle flowgraphy. Ten treatment-naïve nAMD patients underwent measurements of mean, maximum, minimum, and differential RFV within a retinal arteriolar segment and a choroidal vessel segment outside the neovascular area. Measurement of retinal RFV (rRFV), choroidal RFV (cRFV), and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) was repeated 9 and 35 days after a single anti-VEGF injection. The treatment caused a statistically significant decrease in the mean rRFV, mean cRFV, and SCT during the follow-up (p < 0.05). At the intermediate visit, the mean cRFV and SCT were − 17.6% and − 6.4% compared to baseline, respectively. However, at the final measurement, the mean cRFV was not different from the baseline value, which indicated waning of the anti-VEGF effect. In conclusion, a single anti-VEGF injection in treatment-naïve nAMD resulted in a decrease in retinal arteriolar and choroidal perfusion, according to the RFV parameter, which is a promising tool to simultaneously assess retinal and choroidal perfusion changes in response to anti-VEGF therapy.

The 12- and 24-Month Effects of Intravitreal Ranibizumab, Aflibercept and Bevacizumab on Intraocular Pressure: A Network Meta-Analysis

TOPIC

To investigate the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections on intraocular pressure (IOP) 12- and 24-months after initiation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

It is unclear whether serial anti-VEGF injections result in sustained increases in IOP.

METHODS

Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing anti-VEGF agents to each other or to a control for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusions or diabetic macular edema were included. Pairwise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis were performed examining the proportion of patients at 12- and 24-months whose IOP: a) increased ≥5mmHg from baseline on consecutive visits, b) increased ≥10mmHg from baseline at any visit, c) was ≥21mmHg on consecutive visits, d) was ≥25mmHg at any visit, e) was ≥30mmHg at any visit, f) prompted initiation of IOP lowering medications and g) increased as per the clinicians' discretion. Certainty of evidence was informed by Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessments, Development and Evaluations) guidelines.

RESULTS

26 RCTs of 12,522 eyes were included. Aflibercept (2.0mg), bevacizumab (1.25mg), ranibizumab (0.3mg and 0.5mg) and non-injection controls were analyzed. 83 of 84 network estimates for comparisons between anti-VEGF agents demonstrated no statistically significant difference between groups (low to moderate certainty of evidence). Ranibizumab 0.5mg had higher rates than bevacizumab of IOP measurements ≥30mmHg at 12-months (low certainty of evidence). 53 of 56 network estimates for comparisons between anti-VEGF agents and controls demonstrated no statistically significant difference between groups (low to moderate certainty of evidence). Ranibizumab 0.5mg had higher rates of consecutive IOP increases ≥ 5mmHg at 24-months (low certainty of evidence) and higher rates of IOP increases as per the clinicians' discretion at 12 and 24 months (low and very low certainty of evidence respectively). The 95% credible intervals in all comparisons without statistically significant effects did not rule out important clinical effects. The certainty of evidence in these comparisons is limited by imprecision.

CONCLUSION

Evidence from our network meta-analysis does not show any clear difference between anti-VEGF agents and controls when examining IOP increases 12- and 24-months after treatment initiation. Imprecision precludes definitive conclusions with the available data.

Intraocular Pressure Elevation Following Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Injections: Short- and Long-term Considerations

Published studies agree that transient intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes are common after intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents. Currently, there is no standard of care guiding if and when to prevent these IOP spikes. Furthermore, there are challenges in determining the impact of postinjection IOP elevation on the health of the retinal ganglion cells, particularly given the often-existing comorbidities of retinal and glaucoma pathology. This review highlights the current literature regarding both acute and chronic postinjection IOP elevations and discusses management of postinjection IOP elevation, especially in patients at high risk for glaucomatous damage.

Acute and subacute macular and peripapillary angiographic changes in choroidal and retinal blood flow post-intravitreal injections

Whether post injectional acute intraocular pressure (IOP) increase is associated with decreased peripapillary and macular perfusion is still under debate. Here, we investigated early changes in the choroidal and retinal blood flow using OCTA imaging in a cohort of patients undergoing anti-VEGF intravitreal injections (IVI) for macular edema following retinal vein occlusion and diabetic retinopathy. In this prospective single-center, observational study, the pre- and post-IVI changes in retinal perfusion were examined via assessment of vessel length density (VLD) and vessel density (VD) in deep and superficial capillary segmentations (DCP and SCP), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in SCP, as well as flow signal deficits in the choriocapillaris segmentation. Mean IOP significantly changed over the study course (p = 0.000; ANOVA). Measurements at 5 min post-IVI (33.48 ± 10.84 mmHg) differed significantly from baseline (17.26 ± 2.41 mmHg, p = 0.000), while measurements from one day, one week, and one-month post-IVI did not (p = 0.907, p = 1.000 and p = 1.000 respectively). In comparison to baseline, no changes in OCTA parameters, including FAZ, VD, VLD, and FV, were detected 5 min post-IVI. No significant alterations in OCTA parameters were observed during study course. Increased IOP spikes were detected post-IVI; however, no potential permanent ischemic retinal damage was suspected.

Long-term effects of intravitreal bevacizumab and aflibercept on intraocular pressure in wet age-related macular degeneration

Background

To evaluate the incidence of sustained elevation of intraocular pressure (SE-IOP) associated with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGF) bevacizumab and aflibercept in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study consisting of 120 eyes from 120 patients with anti-VEGF treatment for wAMD. Three different anti-VEGF groups were considered: i) 71 cases receiving bevacizumab only, ii) 49 cases receiving bevacizumab before switch to aflibercept, iii) 49 cases after switch to aflibercept. 120 uninjected fellow eyes served as controls. SE-IOP was defined as an increase from baseline ≥5 mmHg on 2 consecutive follow-up visits. The incidence of SE-IOP was analysed using exact Poisson tests and survival analysis. The time course of IOP was evaluated with linear mixed effect modelling.

Results

In total, 6 treated eyes (2.38% incidence per eye-year) and 9 fellow eyes (3.58% incidence per eye-year) developed SE-IOP, and survival analysis showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.43). Furthermore, the incidence of SE-IOP did not differ between the three anti-VEGF groups. Comparing the injected eyes of patients under 70 years to those of patients over 70 years, there was a statistically significant difference in survival without SE-IOP (incidence of 16.7% vs 0.7%, respectively, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were not associated with sustained elevation of IOP. These results do not support the claim that repeated anti-VEGF injections could elevate IOP.

New and Innovative Treatments for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of vision loss. Advanced forms of AMD are seen in primarily two types—neovascular AMD (nAMD) with the presence of choroid neovascularization and non-neovascular AMD (nnAMD) with geographic atrophy. Neovascular AMD is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which leads to a cascade of complications, including exudation, leakage, and ultimately fibrosis with photoreceptor loss. Inhibition of VEGF represents the current standard of care. However, there is a tremendous gap between the outcomes in randomized clinical trials and real-world settings. New agents for nAMD might offer the potential to improve treatment outcomes and reduce treatment of frequent intravitreal injections. We summarize all the newer molecules, their pivotal clinical trial results, and their unique mechanisms of action; these include longer-acting agents, combination strategies, sustained release, and genetic therapies.

Real-World Safety Outcomes of Intravitreal Ranibizumab Biosimilar (Razumab) Therapy for Chorioretinal Diseases

Introduction

To assess the safety profile of the intravitreal ranibizumab biosimilar molecule, Razumab^® (Intas Pharmaceuticals, Ahmedabad, India) in chorioretinal disorders under real-world conditions.

Methods

This was a multicenter, retrospective chart review which included patients from 15 centers receiving intravitreal Razumab (IVRz) injections from 2016 to 2020. Patient demographics, ocular examination data, and detailed safety information regarding serious adverse events (SAE) or serious adverse drug reactions (sADR), and non-serious AEs (nsAE) or non-serious ADRs (nsADR) occurring within 1 month of IVRz injections were compiled.

Results

A total of 6404 eyes of 6404 patients received 9406 IVRz injections [mean (± SD) = 1.49 (± 0.63)] during 4.25 years. Adverse events were reported after 1978 injections (21.03%): 64.16% nsAE, 32.96% nsADR, 2.37% sADR, and 0.51% SAE. The most frequent adverse events were subconjunctival hemorrhage (8.2% of total injections), transient blurring of vision (6.5% of total injections), and mild ocular pain (5.27% of total injections). Serious ocular (31 cases with retinal pigment epithelial tears [0.33%], two cases of non-infectious vitritis [0.02%], and one case of endophthalmitis [0.01%]) and systemic (seven patients with non-fatal myocardial infarction [0.12%] and six patients with non-fatal cerebrovascular accident [0.09%]) adverse events were infrequent.

Conclusion

The study reports the largest pooled safety data on IVRz use in a real-world scenario. The results did not raise any new ocular or systemic safety concerns for the biosimilar agent, with the incidence and spectrum of adverse reactions similar to those reported with other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs. The real-world evidence suggests that IVRz is a safe anti-VEGF agent in the management of chorioretinal disorders.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40123-021-00345-2.

Nanocarriers, Progenitor Cells, Combinational Approaches, and New Insights on the Retinal Therapy

Progenitor cells derived from the retinal pigment epithelium (RPECs) have shown promise as therapeutic approaches to degenerative retinal disorders including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and Stargardt disease. However, the degeneration of Bruch's membrane (BM), the natural substrate for the RPE, has been identified as one of the major limitations for utilizing RPECs. This degeneration leads to decreased support, survival and integration of the transplanted RPECs. It has been proposed that the generation of organized structures of nanofibers, in an attempt to mimic the natural retinal extracellular matrix (ECM) and its unique characteristics, could be utilized to overcome these limitations. Furthermore, nanoparticles could be incorporated to provide a platform for improved drug delivery and sustained release of molecules over several months to years. In addition, the incorporation of tissue-specific genes and stem cells into the nanostructures increased the stability and enhanced transfection efficiency of gene/drug to the posterior segment of the eye. This review discusses available drug delivery systems and combination therapies together with challenges associated with each approach. As the last step, we discuss the application of nanofibrous scaffolds for the implantation of RPE progenitor cells with the aim to enhance cell adhesion and support a functionally polarized RPE monolayer.