Long-term effect of intravitreal ranibizumab therapy on retinal nerve fiber layer in eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To investigate long-term effect (96 months) of intravitreal ranibizumab administered for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness when used following a pro re nata regimen. METHODS: In this prospective study, 20 eyes of 20 patients diagnosed with exudative AMD were included. Contralateral non-exudative AMD eyes of nine of these patients were included as controls. Data on intraocular pressure (IOP) and number of injections were recorded. Spectralis optic coherence tomography (OCT) of the circumpapillary RNFL was performed under dilation when diagnosis was made and before the three loading injections. "Follow-up" software was selected to accurately compare baseline with subsequent images through the 8 years of the study. RESULTS: Baseline IOP was 14.1 mmHg both in study (standard deviation, SD: 0.8) and control eyes (SD: 0.9) and remained unchanged during the study. Mean number of injections was 21 (SD: 2.8) at the end of the study. Mean average thickness of RNFL in the study eye group at the end of the study was 96.5 µm (SD: 2.1). Mean loss for the study period was 5.3 µm (SD: 0.7; p < 0.0001). Corresponding RNFL values for controls were 92.9 (SD: 3.2) and 5.8 µm (SD: 1.2; p < 0.001). Superior temporal sector had the greatest loss in both groups, followed by inferior and nasal sectors. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing losses in injected eyes versus control eyes. CONCLUSIONS: RNFL thickness decreased both equally in injected eyes and control eyes. Thus, no long-term effects of intravitreal ranibizumab were observed on the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness.

The Effect of a Triple Combination of Bevacizumab, Sodium Hyaluronate and a Collagen Matrix Implant in a Trabeculectomy Animal Model.

Currently available anti-scarring treatments for glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) have potentially blinding complications, so there is a need for alternative and safer agents. The effects of the intrableb administration of a new combination of the anti-VEGF bevacizumab, sodium hyaluronate and a collagen matrix implant were investigated in a rabbit model of GFS, with the purpose of modulating inflammation, angiogenesis, fibroblast migration and fibrogenesis in the wound healing process. A comparative-effectiveness study was performed with twenty-four rabbits, randomly assigned to the following treatments: (a) biodegradable collagen matrix implant (Olo), (b) bevacizumab-loaded collagen matrix implant (Olo-BVZ), (c) bevacizumab-loaded collagen matrix implant combined with sodium hyaluronate (Olo-BVZ-H5) and (d) sham-operated animals (control). Rabbits underwent a conventional trabeculectomy and were studied over 30 days in terms of intraocular pressure and bleb characterization (height, area and vascularity in central, peripheral and non-bleb zones). Histologic differences among groups were further evaluated at day 30 (inflammation, total cellularity and degree of fibrosis in the area of surgery). Local delivery of bevacizumab (Olo-BVZ and Olo-BVZ-H5) increased the survival of the filtering bleb by 21% and 31%, respectively, and generated a significant decrease in inflammation and cell infiltration histologically 30 days after surgery, without exhibiting any local toxic effects. Olo-BVZ-H5 showed less lymphocyte infiltration and inflammation than the rest of the treatments. Intraoperative intrableb implantation of bevacizumab, sodium hyaluronate and a collagen matrix may provide an improved trabeculectomy outcome in this model of intense wound healing. This study showed an effective procedure with few surgical complications and a novel combination of active compounds that offer new possibilities to improve the efficacy of filtration surgery.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant in cystoid macular edema secondary to paclitaxel therapy.

PURPOSE: To report the first case of cystoid macular edema (CME) induced by nabpaclitaxel treated with intravitreal dexamethasone implant. OBSERVATIONS: A 67 year-old man diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer presented with decreased vision in both eyes while receiving nab-paclitaxel. He was diagnosed with CME and intravitreal dexamethasone implants were administered in both eyes. Central retinal thickness (CRT) of both eye decreased 1 month after the implant but CME persisted. 2 months after Ozurdex implant nabpaclitaxel was discontinued, improving central macular thickness and the CME significantly in both eyes. CONCLUSION AND IMPORTANCE: Cessation of nab-paclitaxel could lead to resolution of CME more than intravitreal dexamethasone implant, although intravitreal dexamethasone implant achieved some reduction in central macular thickness.