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Bilateral same-day anti-VEGF injection safe for AMD presenting in both eyes
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NEW YORK — Bilateral same-day injection of anti-VEGF agents appears to be a safe management strategy for age-related macular degeneration presenting in both eyes.
Bilateral presentation of wet AMD is not an uncommon problem, but scheduling staggered injections may prove challenging, Sundeep Dev, MD, said at Retina Congress 2009.
In a retrospective review of 800 bilateral same-day procedures in 191 patients with a median age of 80 years, there was only one patient with a notable ocular complication, unilateral iritis that required steroid therapy. Dr. Dev said the patient successfully underwent three subsequent injections of an anti-VEGF agent after resolution of the iritis.
Notably, he said, this patient had a history of vitrectomy, and further studies would help elucidate whether that is a risk factor for an adverse response.
Future studies may also help clarify predicted blood levels of anti-VEGF agents after intraocular injection, which may be important for determining systemic safety. In the study, one patient reported an increase in use of anti-hypertensive medication after the fifth dose of bilateral injections.