Zeitschrift für klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie
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Abstrakt

Bilateral Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Following Intravitreal Injection of Pegaptanib

Mikiko Kimakura, Akio Oishi, Michiko Mandai, and Yasuo Kurimoto

Purpose: To report a rare case with bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) that developed one week after the unilateral intravitreal injection of pegaptanib for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
 
Methods: A patient with AMD in the right eye and bilateral cataracts underwent phacoemulsification and aspiration with intraocular lens implantation (PEA+IOL) combined with an intravitreal injection of pegaptanib in the right eye. She also underwent PEA+IOL for the left eye three days after the procedure was completed on the right eye.
 
Results: She developed bilateral NA-AION one week after the injection of pegaptanib. Visual acuity declined to 0.02 OD and 0.1 OS.
 
Conclusions: Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is generally safe and the causative relationship was not clear, severe side effects, even affecting the contralateral eye, should be kept in mind.