Short-term intraocular pressure trends after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (avastin)

To report the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA).

Retrospective chart review.

After the charts of 29 patients who underwent 51 consecutive intravitreal injections of bevacizumab were reviewed, analysis of the short-term effect of bevacizumab injections on IOP was performed.

Mean baseline IOP ± SD was 15.1 ± 2.35 mm Hg (range, 10-22 mm Hg). Mean postinjection IOP ± SD was 20.1 ± 4.70 mm Hg (range, 16-31 mm Hg). Mean change in IOP from baseline to ≈30 minutes after bevacizumab injection was 5.0 mm Hg (P = 0.0027). Mean IOP ± SD at the first follow-up visit, which occurred ≈25 days (range, 5-43 days) after injection, was 14.7 ± 2.93 mm Hg (range, 10-20 mm Hg).

Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab seems to be safe from an IOP standpoint in the short term. IOP monitoring immediately after injection may not be necessary.