Study finds key factors influencing ocular pain in patients receiving multiple intravitreal injections

Severe dry eye and a history of scleral buckle surgery are significant factors that contribute to increased ocular pain during multiple intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF treatments, according to a study.

The study involved 894 patients receiving at least 3 pro re nata intravitreal injections of either ranibizumab or aflibercept for various chorioretinal vascular diseases. Ocular pain during these injections was measured using the numerical analog scale.

The findings showed that a vast majority of patients (88.6%) experienced no to mild pain, while 8.9% reported moderate pain, 1.6% severe pain, and 0.7% experienced extremely severe pain. Notably, patients with a history of severe dry eye and those who had undergone scleral buckle surgery exhibited a significant correlation with increased ocular pain (P = 0.01 for both).

Other factors such as pars plana scleral thickness and diabetic neuropathy were associated with ocular pain but did not achieve statistical significance (P = 0.09 and P = 0.06, respectively).

Reference
Damasceno NA, Oliveira JAE, Yannuzzi NA, et al. Potential Risk Factors for Ocular Pain in Patients Undergoing Multiple Intravitreal Injections of Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:1691-1699. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S463016. PMID: 38863678; PMCID: PMC11166166.