Safety review of anti-VEGF therapy in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization

• Published in: Expert opinion on drug safety Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 43
• Main Authors: Ng, Danny S C, Ho, Mary, Iu, Lawrence P L, Lai, Timothy Y Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 02.01.2022
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - adverse effects; Angiogenesis Inhibitors - pharmacology; Animals; Choroidal Neovascularization - drug therapy; Humans; Intravitreal Injections; Myopia, Degenerative - drug therapy; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors; anti-VEGF; myopia; adverse events; Choroidal neovascularization; complications
• ISSN: 1744-764X
• DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2021.1952979

Anti-angiogenesis therapy with intravitreal anti-VEGF agents is now the standard-of-care treatment for myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV). We provide a critical review of the safety of all the anti-VEGF agents currently used for treating myopic CNV including ranibizumab, aflibercept, conbercept, bevacizumab, and ziv-aflibercept. Anti-VEGF therapy for myopic CNV with the currently available anti-VEGF drugs generally have favorable safety outcomes in the short-term. Nonetheless, ocular adverse events following anti-VEGF therapy for myopic CNV may develop and these include worsening or new development of myopic traction maculopathy, increased risk of retinal detachment, and progression of chorioretinal atrophy. Clinicians should be aware of these potential complications and evaluate them before and after anti-VEGF therapy.