To characterize preinjection intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes receiving monthly ranibizumab versus sham or verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) for age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Post hoc analysis of IOP data from 2 phase 3 clinical trials, the Minimally Classic/Occult Trial of the Anti-VEGF Antibody Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Neovascular AMD (MARINA) and the Anti-VEGF Antibody for the Treatment of Predominantly Classic Choroidal Neovascularization in AMD (ANCHOR) trial.

All safety-evaluable patients who received 1 or more injections of sham or PDT or of ranibizumab and had 1 or more postbaseline IOP measurements recorded for the study eye.

Preinjection IOP measurements for study eyes (n = 1125) and fellow eyes in MARINA and ANCHOR at baseline and at each monthly visit through month 24 were analyzed.

End points evaluated were maximum preinjection IOP during the 24-month treatment period; any occurrence of absolute preinjection IOP of 21 mmHg or more, 25 mmHg or more, or 30 mmHg or more; any occurrence of IOP increase of 6 mmHg or more, 8 mmHg or more, or 10 mmHg or more from baseline; any combination of IOP increase of 6 mmHg or more or 8 mmHg or more from baseline with concurrent absolute preinjection IOP of 21 mmHg or more or 25 mmHg or more; glaucoma-related adverse events; new glaucoma medications used for 45 days or more; and glaucoma filtration or laser surgeries.

Across treatment groups, 60.1% to 70.9% of study eyes had a maximum preinjection IOP of less than 21 mmHg. Comparing ranibizumab 0.5 mg versus sham or PTD treatment, respectively: 39.9% versus 29.1% and 10.9% versus 5.1% had maximum preinjection IOPs of 21 mmHg or more or 25 mmHg or more, respectively; 44.1% versus 29.9% and 24.2% versus 13.6% had IOP increases from baseline of 6 mmHg or more or 8 mmHg or more, respectively; 26.1% versus 13.6% and 16.8% versus 9.0% had 1 or more IOP increase from baseline of 6 mmHg or more or 8 mmHg or more, respectively, with a concurrent IOP of 21 mmHg or more; 9.6% versus 3.7% and 7.5% versus 2.4% had 1 or more IOP increase from baseline of 6 mmHg or more or 8 mmHg or more, respectively, with a concurrent IOP of 25 mmHg or more. No differences were observed in fellow eyes.

Most ranibizumab-treated eyes did not experience sustained preinjection IOP of 21 mmHg or more (>2 consecutive visits) over 24 months. When evaluating the combined IOP end point, more ranibizumab-treated eyes had 1 or more IOP increase from baseline of 6 mmHg or more or 8 mmHg or more, with concurrent highest IOPs of 21 mmHg or more and 25 mmHg or more versus sham or PDT. Intraocular pressure should be monitored in eyes receiving ranibizumab.