Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Avastin (Bevacizumab, Genentech) as therapy for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSR).
Methods: :
We retrospectively reviewed the data of 17 patients with chronic CSR treated with Avastin ( 1.25 mg/0.05 cc). Inclusion criteria included chronic CSR lesions associated with RPE alterations and neurosensory detachments. Lesions were present for a minimum of 3 months and were associated with chronic RPE changes. Patients had minimum of 6 month follow up. Exclusion criteria included any lesion previously treated with PDT or thermal laser. Outcome measures included pre and post-treatment changes in best-corrected visual acuity, lesion size, and OCT thickness. Safety assessment was performed by complete ophthalmologic examination pre and post-injection.
Results: :
All 17 eyes undergoing treatment for chronic CSR with Avastin showed a significant reduction in central macular thickness by OCT. Mean central macular thickness was 395 microns pre-injection and 226 microns post injection (p<0.05). Visual acuity stabilized or improved in 94% of patients and a majority of eyes showed reduced or resolved neurosensory detachment following treatment. The average number of injections to resolution of CSR by OCT was 3.5. The mean follow up time was 6.4 months. No cases of endophthalmitis were reported.
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal Avastin is an effective treatment for chronic CSR.
Keywords: retinal pigment epithelium • vitreous • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)