Corneal and conjunctival sensitivity changes following intravitreal ranibizumab injection in diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate corneal and conjunctival sensitivity changes following intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) injection in eyes with diabetic retinopathy.

METHODS

Forty-six eyes of 46 patients with diabetic macular edema who underwent intravitreal injection of ranibizumab were included in this prospective study. Fifty eyes of 50 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients served as controls. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmological examination. Fundus florescein angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed to assess the posterior segment details. IVR (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) was injected from the lower temporal quadrant. Corneal and conjunctival sensitivities were measured using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer.

RESULTS

Corneal sensitivity (CS) increased significantly on the first day in temporal and nasal corneas in treated eyes (P=0.005 and P=0.000, respectively). At week one the increase continued and the difference was significant in central, temporal, and nasal corneas (all P=0.000). In fellow eyes, CS increased significantly only in nasal cornea (P=0.004). Only nasal conjunctival sensitivity increased significantly both in treated and fellow eyes at week one (P=0.000 and P=0.005, respectively).

CONCLUSION

IVR may have a potential to increase corneal and conjunctival sensitivities in diabetic retinopathy.