RISK FACTORS FOR SURGERY OR BLINDNESS IN NEOVASCULAR GLAUCOMA EYES TREATED WITH ANTI-VEGF INJECTIONS BY A RETINA SPECIALIST

Abstract

Purpose: To determine baseline patient characteristics that predict the need for glaucoma surgery or blindness in eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG) despite intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with NVG who had not previously received glaucoma surgery and were treated with intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections at the time of diagnosis, from September 8, 2011, to May 8, 2020, at a large, retina subspecialty practice. Results: Of 301 newly presenting NVG eyes, 31% required glaucoma surgery and 20% progressed to no light perception vision despite treatment. Patients with intraocular pressure >35 mmHg (P < 0.001), two or more topical glaucoma medications (P = 0.003), worse than 20/100 vision (P = 0.024), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (P = 0.001), eye pain or discomfort (P = 0.010), and new patient status (P = 0.015) at the time of NVG diagnosis were at a higher risk of glaucoma surgery or blindness regardless of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. The effect of panretinal photocoagulation was not statistically significant in a subgroup analysis of patients without media opacity (P = 0.199). Conclusion: Several baseline characteristics at the time of presentation to a retina specialist with NVG seem to portend a higher risk of uncontrolled glaucoma despite the use of antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy. Prompt referral of these patients to a glaucoma specialist should be strongly considered.