Association between systemic anticoagulation and rate of intraocular hemorrhage following intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy for age-related macular degeneration.

Background And Objective: To investigate the association between systemic anticoagulant medication usage at the time of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injection with post-injection intraocular hemorrhage among patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Patients And Methods: Retrospective, consecutive case series of all patients treated with anti-VEGF injection for neovascular AMD at the Penn State Hershey Eye Center between 2004 and 2010: 1,710 anti-VEGF injections performed in 228 eyes of 191 patients. Each injection was analyzed according to whether the patient was taking systemic anticoagulant medication at the time of injection.