Estimation of the need for bilateral intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in clinical practice. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giocanti-Auregan, Audrey; Tadayoni, Ramin; Grenet, Typhaine; Fajnkuchen, Franck; Nghiem-Buffet, Sylvia; Delahaye-Mazza, Corinne; Quentel, Gabriel; Cohen, Salomon
• Is Part Of: BMC ophthalmology. Volume 16:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Intravitreal injection -- Age-related macular degeneration -- Anti-VEGF -- Diabetic macular edema -- Retinal diseases; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7005
• DOI: 10.1186/s12886-016-0317-y
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2415

Abstract

Abstract Background To estimate the need for bilateral intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in patients treated for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), retinal vein occlusion, choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in high myopia, and other causes of CNV. Methods All consecutive patients treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injection over a 1-month period were included in a prospective multicenter survey. The reason for intravitreal anti-VEGF injection and the involvement of the fellow eye in the pathology requiring a treatment with intravitreal anti-VEGF were recorded. A time interval between bilateral injections longer than 1 month, within a 1-month period, and same-day bilateral injections were recorded. Results A total of 1335 patients were included, corresponding to 1024 (76.7 %) patients treated for nAMD, 167 (12.5 %) for DME, and 144 (10.8 %) for other reasons. Four hundred and fifty-nine (34.4 %) patients were treated bilaterally with a time interval between injections longer than 1 month, 170 (12.7 %) were treated bilaterally within a 1-month interval, and 87 (6.6 %) had same-day bilateral injections. Bilateral injections were more frequent in diabetic patients than in nAMD patients (respectively 48 % vs. 36 %, p = 0.0033). Conclusions Patients with DME are more likely to be treated bilaterally with anti-VEGF injections. As the rate of second eye involvement requiring treatment increases progressively over time, a same-day bilateral injection strategy will become more common as it decreases the administrative burden on the healthcare system and treatment burden experienced by patients.