Abstract
Purpose: :
To assess the effect of multiple intra-vitreal (ITV) injections of ranibizumab on the retinal layer thickness and corneal endothelial cell count
Methods: :
Prospective study of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, being treated with multiple injections of ranibizumab (at least 5) on a pro re nata (PRN) protocol in one eye. The injected eye was compared with the fellow eye. Optical coherent tomography and corneal endothelial count were performed. Two linear sections were taken; one just nasal to the optic disc and the second immediately superior to the macula just above the superio-temporal retinal vessels. The images were analyzed to objectively measure full retinal thickness. Endothelial cell count of both eyes was also recorded.
Results: :
Thirteen patients (mean age = 74, range 63 to 80 years) had average of 8.8 IVT ranibizumab injections (range 5 to 15). Mean endothelial count in the injected eye was 2479 cells/ mm2 and in the fellow eye was 2508 cells/ mm2 (Pearson Correlation=0.89, P value 0.48). Mean retinal layer thickness (Nasal) in the injected eye was 246 µm and in the fellow eye was 242 µm (Pearson Correlation=0.82, P value 0.2). Mean retinal layer thickness (Superio-temporal) in the injected eye was 231 µm and in the fellow eye was 233 µm (Pearson Correlation=0.46, P value 0.34).
Conclusions: :
Our study shows no significant impact of multiple IVT ranibizumab injections on the retinal layers thickness and corneal endothelial cell count.
Keywords: injection • nerve fiber layer • cornea: endothelium