Abstract
Purpose: :
to determine the effect of intrastromal bevacizumab injections on corneal neovessels (CNV).
Methods: :
ten eyes were studied in 10 patients with an average age of 64.5 +/- 16.2 years. Patients underwent peripheral corneal intrastromal bevacizumab injections using a 30 G needle at a concentration of 5 mg/0.2 mL. .Intraocular pressure, best-corrected visual acuity, neovascular net extent, anterior segment photography, corneal fluorescein angiography, pachymetry, corneal sensitivity and specular microscopy were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively.
Results: :
the minimum follow-up period was 6 months. CNVs started to regress within the first 4 days after the injection, and regressed completely by the end of the fourth week in four patients, and regressed partially in six patients. CNV regressed completely after 3 monthly injections in four out of these six patients. . In two patient regression of CNV was not complete. No systemic or local side effects were observed.
Conclusions: :
1 to 3 corneal intrastromal 5 mg/ 0,2 mL bevacizumab injections may be effective in reducing corneal neovascularization in humans without observed side effects.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • cornea: stroma and keratocytes • neovascularization