To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) changes after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide versus bevacizumab injection.

IOP was measured in 40 patients who received an intravitreal injection of 0.1 ml triamcinolone and 40 patients who received 2 consecutive intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (0.05 ml and 0.1 ml). Patients were divided into three groups : 0.1 ml triamcinolone group (0.1 IVTA group), 0.05 ml bevacizumab group (0.05 IVB group), and 0.1 ml bevacizumab group (0.1 IVB group). IOPs were compared within groups at different time points (before, 1 day after, and 30 days after the injection) and between groups at the same time points.

In the 0.05 IVB and 0.1 IVB groups, IOP at 1 day after injection was significantly lower than before injection ( P < 0.01, P = 0.03), and IOP at 30 days after injection was significantly higher than IOP at 1 day after injection ( P < 0.01, P < 0.01). In the 0.1 IVTA group, IOP at 30 days after injection was significantly higher than before injection ( P = 0.01). Between groups, IOP at 1 day after injection in the 0.05 IVB group was significantly lower than IOP in the 0.1 IVTA group ( P = 0.03).

IOP was decreased at 1 day after intravitreal bevacizumab injection, whereas in intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide IOP elevation persisted after 1 month.