Case Report
Mikiko Kimakura, Akio Oishi
Abstract
Purpose: To report a rare case with bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION) that developed one week after the unilateral intravitreal injection of pegaptanib for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: A patient with AMD in the right eye and bilateral cataracts underwent phacoemulsification and aspiration with intraocular lens implantation (PEA+IOL) combined with an intravitreal injection of pegaptanib in the right eye. She also underwent PEA+IOL for the left eye three days after the procedure was completed on the right eye. Results: She developed bilateral NA-AION one week after the injection of pegaptanib. Visual acuity declined to 0.02 OD and 0.1 OS. Conclusions: Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is generally safe and the causative relationship was not clear, severe side effects, even affecting the contralateral eye, should be kept in mind.