INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE;

CHANGES IN INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE AFTER INTRA-VITREAL BEVACIZUMAB (ANTI VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR) INJECTION IN NON-GLAUCOMATOUS PATIENTS.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine mean changes in intraocular pressure after intra-vitreal bevacizumab (anti vascular endothelial growth factor) in non-glaucomatous patients suffering from retinal vascular disorders. Study Design: Quasi experimental study. Setting: Outdoor patient Department of Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust Free Eye Hospital, Lahore. Period: 06 months from Jan-2017 to June-2017. Patients and Methods: A total number of 100 patients having age 18-65 years who presented with retinal vascular disorders. Pre injection intraocular pressure was measured with Goldman Applanation Tonometer five minutes before injection. After that intravitreal bevacizumab was injected using standardized technique. Post-injection, intraocular pressure was measured after 1 month of injection. Data was analyzed with the help of SPSS v19. Paired sample t-test was applied to determine any significant difference in pre-injection and post-injection IOP at p-value of <0.05. Mean change in IOP was also calculated. Results: Mean age of patients was 51.76+9.22 Years. There were 50% male patients and 50% female patients. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed in 41% patients, central serous chorio-retinopathy in 17%, age related macular degeneration in 16%, branch retinal venous occlusion in 15% and idiopathic choroidal neovascularization in 11% patients. Right sided eye was affected in 53% patients. Mean pre-injection IOP was 14.07+3.15 and mean post-injection IOP was 14.54+2.31 mmHg (p-value 0.12). Mean difference in pre-injection and post-injection IOP (after 1 month of injection) was -0.523+2.98 mmHg. Conclusion: Bevacizumab can be safely administered for the treatment of non-glaucomatous retinal vascular disorders without significantly disturbing the IOP for a longer period of time.