Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate efficacy and safety of intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) unrelated to age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: :
Seventeen consecutive patients with CNV unrelated to AMD were treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy (1.25mg bevacizumab or 0.5mg ranibizumab). Patients were evaluated retrospectively with regard to best corrected distance (ETDRS charts) visual acuity, need for magnification as well as number of treatments.
Results: :
Minimum follow-up in all patients was 6 months; 14 of 17 patients completed 12 months follow-up. CNV was secondary to pathologic myopia (9), angioid streaks (4), multifocal chorioiditis (2), and PIC (1). One patient was diagnosed with IPCV. Mean distance visual acuity improved from 58 ETDRS letters (20/63-2) at baseline to 70 ETDRS letters (20/40) at month 6 (p<0.05) and 72 ETDRS letters (20/40+2) at month 12 (p<0.05). At one year follow-up 43 % of patients gained more than 3 lines and 86% gained at least 1 line. Two patients lost less than 3 ETDRS lines. The need for magnification decreased from 1.98x (baseline) to 0.91x (M6; p=0.02)) and 0.98x (M12; p=0.05).The mean number of treatments was 3.1 (M6) and 4.3 (M12). However, still 29% of patients required retreatment at month 12. No serious ocular or systemic adverse occurred in follow-up.
Conclusions: :
Conclusions:Intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy appears promising in CNV unrelated to AMD.
Keywords: choroid: neovascularization • retina