The short-term effects of intravitreal bevacizumab injection on intraocular pressure, cornea, iridocorneal angle, and anterior chamber

Abstract

Background: Transient increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), changes in anterior chamber parameters, and changes in aqueous humor dynamics may occur after intravitreal injections because of intravitreal volume changes. Objective: In this observational study, we investigated the early effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection on IOP, central corneal thickness (CCT), corneal volume (CV), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and iridocorneal angle (ICA). Method: The patients who had one single-dose IVB (2.5 mg/0.1 mL) injection were included in the study. The patients underwent IOP, CCT, CV, ACD, and ICA measurements before and 1 h and 1 day after the injection. Pre-injection and post-injection values were compared. Results: Forty-two eyes of 42 patients were included in the study, and the mean age of patients was 60.1 ± 7.4 years. The mean IOP measurements before and after injection at 1 h and day 1 were 15 ± 2.4, 17.4 ± 2.4, and 14.7 ± 2.3, respectively. The mean IOP, CCT, and CV values 1 h after injection were significantly higher than pre-injection values ( p < 0.05, p < 0.05, and p = 0.02, respectively). Conversely, mean ACD and ICA values 1 h after injection were significantly lower than pre-injection values ( p = 0.01 for both). There were no statistically significant differences on the first day after injection for all parameters. Conclusion: IVB (2.5 mg/0.1 mL) injection causes transient increases in IOP and transient decreases in ACD and ICA at the first hour after injection. Related to elevation in IOP, CCT and CV may increase transiently. These changes return to baseline values on the first day after injection.