Effect of antiglaucoma agents on short-term intraocular pressure fluctuations after intravitreal bevacizumab injections

Purpose To evaluate the effect of prophylactic pressure-lowering medications on intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes after intravitreal injections (IVIs) Methods In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 74 eyes that were candidates for intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injection (IVI) (0.05 mL, 1.25 mg of bevacizumab) were enrolled and sorted randomly into five groups, group 1: topical timolol 0.5% (n = 16); group 2: topical brimonidin (n = 15); group 3: oral acetazolamide 250 mg (n = 14); group 4: intravenous mannitol (1.5 gr/kg) (n = 16); group 5: no intraocular pressure-lowering medication (n = 13). Medications were administered 30-60 min prior to injection. None of the patients had history of glaucoma. Intraocular pressure was measured before (baseline), 5 min after (T5), 10 min after (T10), 15 min after (T15) and 30 min after (T30) IVI using Goldmann Tonometer. Results There was a statistically significant, but relatively weak negative correlation between the amount of vitreous reflux post-IVI intraocular pressure elevation (Spearman's rho = -0.315, p = 0.006). There was no difference of the amount of vitreous reflux (P = 0.196) between study groups. The baseline mean IOP for Groups 1, 2, 3,4 and 5 were 11.19 +/- 3.7, 10.07 +/- 2.19, 11 +/- 2.98, 10.13 +/- 3.48 and12.54 +/- 2.60 mmHg, respectively. (P = 0.214) There was no difference of peak IOP spike between groups at T5: 37 +/- 19.7, 34.80 +/- 15.76, 33.43 +/- 18.29, 33.56 +/- 16.88, 34.92 +/- 9.99 mmHg (P = 0.977). There was also no difference of IOP at T10, T15 and T30 between study groups: P = 0.979, P = 0.994 and P = 0.692, respectively. Conclusion Although it is advisable to prevent IOP spikes, our study showed that use of prophylactic pressure-lowering medications with every mechanism of action has no effect in IOP spikes following intravitreal bevacizumab injections in non-glaucomatous eyes. Trial registrationThe study was registered with clinicaltrails.gov (ID# NCT02140450). Trial registration date: 05.09.2014