Abstract
Purpose: :
We have reported that the amplitudes of the focal macular electroretinograms (FMERGs) were reduced soon after PDT (IOVS 2007). Recently, intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB), which has been used to treat eyes with vascular diseases, has been shown to affect the inner retina. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the macular and inner retinal functions after IVB for myopic neovascularization (mCNV).
Methods: :
Six eyes of five patients that were treated with IVB for a mCNV with lacquer cracks on indocyanine green angiography (axial length, ≥26.5mm, range 26.8-31.4 mm). The visual acuity, thickness of the foveal center on the optical coherence tomographic (OCT) images, FMERGs, and the photopic negative response (PhNR) were obtained before and 1 week after the IVB. FMERGs were recorded under direct fundus observation using a modified infrared fundus camera and a 15 degree stimulus spot. The PhNR is a negative component of the photopic electroretinogram (ERG) that is observed after the b-wave and is thought to originate mainly from the activity of retinal ganglion cells and their axons.
Results: :
The visual acuity before IVB ranged from 0.02 to 0.8 and it ranged from 0.05 to 0.8 1 week after the IVB. The mean foveal center thickness before IVB was 305.0±39.1 µm, and it was 284.2±44.8 µm 1 week after IVB (mean± SEM). The mean amplitudes of the a-wave of the FMERGs before and 1 week after IVB were 0.48±0.25µV and 0.51±0.27µV, respectively. The mean amplitudes of the b-wave before and 1 week after IVB were 1.74±0.29 µV and 1.73±0.39 µV, respectively. The mean amplitudes of PhNR before and 1 week after IVB were 54.5±11.8 µV and 59.6±10.5 µV, respectively. None of these differences after IVB was significant.
Conclusions: :
These results indicate that single injection of IVB for mCNV does not affect the function of the macular and the retinal ganglion cells soon after treatment.
Keywords: electroretinography: clinical • myopia • neuroprotection