Effects of Intravitreal Anti-VEGF Therapy on Glaucoma-like Progression in Susceptible Eyes

Abstract

PRéCIS:: Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections may accelerate glaucomatous change in patients with preexisting glaucoma or ocular hypertension (OHT). The safety of long-term injections in this specific population may be reflected in the need for additional glaucoma interventions.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether repeated anti-VEGF injections accelerate structural and functional glaucomatous change in eyes with preexisting glaucoma or OHT.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective, observational study of injected and noninjected fellow eyes. A total of 28 patients with preexisting glaucoma or OHT, who received ≥6 unilateral anti-VEGF injections for concurrent neovascular retinal disease, were selected for chart review. Primary outcome measures were rate of visual field loss in dB/year, rate of change in retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in microns/year, and need for additional glaucoma medications, surgery, or laser.

Results: The number of eyes requiring additional glaucoma surgery or laser was 8 of 28 (28.6%) for the injected group and 2 of 28 (7.1%) for the noninjected group. A significantly greater proportion of injected eyes required invasive glaucoma intervention (P=0.034). Average rate of decline in mean deviation and change in pattern standard deviation were both significantly greater in injected eyes (P=0.029; P=0.019). Estimated mean rate of global retinal nerve fiber layer change was -4.27 µm/y for the injected group and -1.17 µm/y for the noninjected group and was significant only for injected eyes (P=0.014). Only the superior quadrant exhibited thinning that was significantly different between groups (P=0.030).

Conclusions: Intravitreal injections were associated with accelerated functional and structural glaucoma-like change in susceptible eyes. Clinicians should assess the need for glaucoma medications or other interventions over the course of anti-VEGF therapy.