Short-term intraocular pressure trends following intravitreal pegaptanib (Macugen) injection

To report the changes and trends in intraocular pressures (IOP) following intravitreal injection of Pegaptanib (Macugen) for the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Retrospective chart review.

Review of 79 patients who underwent 122 consecutive Pegaptanib injections. Analysis of the short-term effect of Pegaptanib injections on IOP was performed.

Baseline mean IOP was 15.73 +/- 3.41 mm Hg (mean +/- standard deviation) with a range of 9 to 27 mm Hg. Postinjection mean IOP was 24.47 +/- 6.29 mm Hg with a range of 8 to 36 mm Hg. Mean IOP change from baseline to roughly 30 minutes after Pegaptanib injection was 8.74 +/- 7.23 mm Hg. At the 5- to 7-day follow-up visit, IOP had normalized.

Pegaptanib injection in this limited series seems to be safe from an IOP standpoint in the short-term. IOP monitoring postinjection may not be necessary.