Abstract
Purpose:
To investigate the change in choroidal thickness (CT) after intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (ivB) for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), using the enhanced depth imaging modality of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT).
Methods:
This retrospective observational case series included 127 consecutive eyes of 127 patients with wet AMD, who received ivB injections. Exclusion criteria included posterior segment surgeries, and photodynamic therapy. Complete ophthalmic examination, fluorescein angiography, and EDI-OCT were performed at baseline, and during the follow-up visits. All eyes were given at least 2 ivB injections. In 35 eyes, 6 consecutive ivB were received. Manual choroidal segmentation, and subfoveal CT, mean CT in central 1000 and central 5000 microns were recorded. Differences between the baseline and post-ivB CT measurements were analyzed.
Results:
The mean pre-injection CT was 171.7 μm within the central 1000 μm. A significant reduction (P < 0.005) in the CT was seen after 2 ivB in the fovea (6.3 μm), central 1000 μm (5.7 μm), and 5000 μm (4.6 μm). The reduction in the treatment naïve eyes was higher than in the previously treated ones (7.8 μm and 4.07 μm respectively). Following 6 ivB injections, significant reduction (P < 0.05) was seen in the fovea and central 1000 μm at both the 2 and 6 months visit. No significant change in CT was observed between the 2 and 6 months visit.
Conclusions:
Choroidal thickness showed a diffuse significant reduction following intravitreal bevacizumab injection, which was more during the first 2 months of treatment.
Keywords: 452 choroid •
412 age-related macular degeneration •
748 vascular endothelial growth factor