The Effects Of Serial Intravitreal Injection Procedures On The Ocular Surface
Published 2023 - 41st Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: FP14.09 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/xw52-nr51
Authors: Serdar Bilici* 1 , Neriman Selcuk 1 , Suat Hayri Ugurbas 1
1Ophthalmology,Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University School of Medicine,Zonguldak,Türkiye
Purpose
To evaluate the effects of serial intravitreal injections (IVI) on the ocular surface and meibomian glands in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).
Setting
A controlled observational study
Methods
Patients receiving unilateral anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agent injections due to nAMD were included. The fellow eye was used as the control group. All participants had applied a pre-IVI asepsis protocol with povidone-iodine. Non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT), the loss rate of meibomian glands, the Schirmer 1 test, corneal staining score (according to Oxford scale), and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire were recorded on a single occasion at a minimum of four weeks after IVI.
Results
Forty-two patients with a mean age of 63.3 ± 19,4 years were included. The mean number of IVI was 10.6 (range 6–22). There were no statistically significant differences between treated and fellow eyes regarding NIBUT (5.95 vs 7.98 sec, p=0.34), the loss rate of meibomian glands (60.2% vs 58.1%, p=0.5), the Schirmer 1 test (11.7 vs 10.1 mm, p=0.27), corneal staining score (0.3 vs 0.2, p=0.34), and the OSDI questionnaire (20.4 vs 19.3, p=0.53).
Conclusions
Repeated IVI procedure of anti-VEGF agents with the preoperative povidone-iodine application has no significant adverse effect on the ocular surface or meibomian glands.