[Morphometric analysis of corneal endothelium after intravitreal ranibizumab (Lucentis) in age-related macular degeneration treatment].

PURPOSE

To determine the effect of intravitreal injection of 0.5mg ranibizumab on the corneal endothelium in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

METHODS

Observational, prospective case series pilot study. Twenty-six eyes of 26 consecutive patients with AMD were evaluated. All participants received one monthly intravitreal injections of 0.5mg ranibizumab for three consecutive months. The follow-up period was 6 months. Central corneal specular microscopy was performed before injection and at 7 days and 6 months after the first intravitreal injection. The endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation of cell size, and percentage of hexagonal cells were analyzed and the central corneal thickness was measured.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the endothelial cell densities, coefficients of variation of cell size and percentages of hexagonal cells before injection and at 7 days and 6 months after the first intravitreal ranibizumab injection (P>0.5). There was also no significant difference in central corneal thickness measurements through the follow-up period (P>0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated intravitreal injections of 0.5mg ranibizumab do not seem to cause substantial changes in the corneal endothelium.