Intravitreal injections: A review of pharmacological agents and techniques

Abstract

Over the past three decades, intravitreal delivery of pharmacotherapeutic agents has advanced tremendously with many drugs being developed solely for intravitreal use. Intravitreal injections have now become routine in the management of various ocular conditions, most commonly diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration, with the benefits of targeted therapy far outweighing the risks of the procedure. Herein we review the variety of agents available and currently being used for intravitreal therapy of various retinal and intraocular conditions, their indications as well as the optimal technique that should be employed in their administration.

Keywords

• Age-related macular degeneration
• antivascular endothelial growth factor
• bevacizumab
• diabetic macular edema
• endophthalmitis
• intravitreal injections
• ranibizumab