INVESTIGATION OF CHANGES IN LENS THICKNESS DEPENDING ON INTRAVITREAL ADMINISTRATION OF ANGIOGENESIS INHIBITOR AND DEXAMETHASONE DEPOT

Currently, the frequency of intravitreal injections (IVV) has a steady upward trend. Antiangiogenic therapy is the predominant method of treating various retinal pathologies. Intravenous injections using pharmacological drugs against VEGF, as well as the intravitreal dexamethasone implant “Ozurdex” are widely used. Since the effect of these pharmacological drugs on cataractogenesis has not yet been sufficiently studied, research in this area is of paramount importance for understanding the morphological characteristics associated with cataract progression. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study fluctuations in lens thickness during intravitreal administration of aflibercept and dexamethasone depot. Materials and methods. A total of 220 eyes were included in the study. Based on the administered pharmacological drug, the first group included 100 eyes that were intravenously injected with aflibercept, the second group received an intravitreal implant of dexamethasone Ozurdex, and the control (third) group included 100 eyes. Results: The dynamics of changes in lens thickness was documented in groups of patients treated with Ozurdex for 3-6 months (0.012), indicating a gradual increase in lens thickness in this group. Conclusion: no statistically significant changes in lens thickness were found in patients receiving aflibercept after 3 and 6 months. Conversely, the cohort receiving dexamethasone depot showed a statistically significant increase in lens thickness after both 3 and 6 months compared with the control group and the aflibercept cohort.