Recurrent Tube Erosions with Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy in Patients with Age-Related Macular...

To determine the rates of primary and recurrent glaucoma tube shunt erosions in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) intravitreal injections.

Retrospective case series.

Patients with AMD who underwent tube revision for erosion at the Duke Eye Center from January 1, 1999, to January 1, 2019, were identified. Patients with and without anti-VEGF injections were compared.

Patient demographics, ocular diagnoses, glaucoma tube shunt types and locations, and dates of glaucoma surgeries and anti-VEGF injections were collected. Statistical analyses were performed with P < 0.05 as significant.

Outcome measures included the number of tube erosions, time from anti-VEGF injection to tube erosion, and secondary complications after tube revisions.

A total of 150 patients with AMD with anti-VEGF (309 tubes) and 262 patients with AMD without anti-VEGF (459 tubes) were identified. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of tube erosions in patients with anti-VEGF (15 tubes, 4.8%) versus without anti-VEGF (12 tubes, 2.6%) (P = 0.10). However, patients receiving anti-VEGF had on average a greater number of tube erosion events (2.1±0.7 events) compared with patients without anti-VEGF (1.3±0.7, P < 0.01). Ten patients (91%) received concurrent anti-VEGF injections at the time of tube erosion, and the average duration of prior anti-VEGF therapy was approximately 2 years. Tube erosion was noted 46.5±60.7 days from the preceding anti-VEGF injection. Secondary complications after tube revision in the anti-VEGF group included 5 explanted tubes for recurrent erosions.

Our results suggest intravitreal anti-VEGF injections are linked to higher rates of recurrent glaucoma tube erosions in patients with AMD. The majority of patients received chronic and serial anti-VEGF injections. Thus, additional consideration should be given to glaucoma surgical planning in patients receiving anti-VEGF injections, especially in those with a primary tube erosion.