Ocular Discomfort Following Use Of Artificial Tears In Patients Under Treatment Of Intravitreal Injections Of Anti-Vegf Agents.

The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the benefit of artificial tears instillation in patients under treatment with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents

Oftalvist, Valencia, Spain

This was a randomized, prospective study considering 40 patients under treatment with intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent (ranibizumab, 10mg/ml) for age-related macular degeneration. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. Ocular discomfort symptoms were assessed by means of the ocular surface discomfort index (OSDI) and the Dry Eye Questionnaire-5 (DEQ-5), extensively used as an aid for dry eye diagnosis, one month after injections, and then after one month of artificial tears instillation, during a two-month follow-up period. Systane Hydration and Viscofresh 10 mg/ml artifical tears were used. 

There is a reduction in ocular discomfort symptoms assessed by means of OSDI and DEQ-5 questionnaires in patients under treatment of intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents. Statistical tests will be shown at the time of the presentation with a larger dataset. Current standard of care after intraocular injections does not include artificial tear instillation of any kind, but the outcomes of the present study suggest it should be considered for inclusion in the post-injection protocol

Artificial tears instillation reduces patient-reported symptoms of ocular discomfort in patients being treated with intravitreal injections for age-related macular degeneration.