Concomitant bilateral intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration

R Prince Davis, Amy C Schefler, Timothy G Murray

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

Purpose: To report the outcomes of same-day, bilateral intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy for a consecutive series of patients treated for exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

Methods: A consecutive series of 254 eyes of 127 patients received bilateral, same-day anti-VEGF injections of either bevacizumab or ranibizumab between January 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008 and the outcomes were assessed. Approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Results: Bilateral, same-day anti-VEGF injections were well tolerated in all patients receiving the therapy. Indication for injection was exudative macular degeneration in all patients. The incidence of adverse effects was low, with only four events reported, none of which were serious.

Conclusions: In this study, bilateral anti-VEGF injections performed on the same day were preferred over staggered injections and were well tolerated by patients. No major systemic or ocular adverse events were noted, despite the presence of risk factors in a subset of patients. Given that there are serious, albeit rare, complications following anti-VEGF injection, further study with a larger number of patients will be necessary to definitively prove the safety of this treatment modality.

Keywords: visual acuity, same-day treatment, bevacizumab, ranibizumab