Abstract
Purpose: :
To study the safety and efficacy of subconjunctival bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal neovascularization.
Methods: :
In a retrospective, non-comparative study, the charts of 19 eyes from 19 patients with corneal neovascularization were reviewed. The patients had been treated with subconjunctival bevacizumab 1.25mg/0.05ml and followed up at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months. Parameters evaluated included visual acuity, neovascular area, measuring the area of the corneal vessels themselves; vessel caliber , measuring the mean diameter of the corneal vessels; and invasion area, measuring the fraction of the total corneal area covered by the vessels. In addition, all patients were evaluated for the occurrence of ocular or systemic adverse events.
Results: :
All neovascularization parameters, neovascular area, vessel caliber , and invasion area, demonstrated improvement in sixty-six percent of the eyes treated with subconjunctival bevacizumab. Twenty-nine percent of eyes demonstrated no change in neovascularization parameters while five percent of eyes progressed despite treatment.
Conclusions: :
Short-term subconjunctival bevacizumab therapy reduces the severity of corneal neovascularization. In addition, the use of subconjunctival bevacizumab did not result in any local or systemic side-effects. Subconjunctival bevacizumab may provide an alternative therapy in the treatment of corneal neovascularization.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • neovascularization • anterior segment