Abstract
Purpose::
It is known that the macular function is generally reduced soon after photodynamic therapy (PDT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term changes in the focal macular electroretinograms (FMERGs) and macular thickness after intravitreal Bevacizumab for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods::
Six eyes (5 with occult without classic CNV, 1 with minimally classic CNV) were injected intravitreally with 1.25 mg of Bevacizumab. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), FMERGs elicited by a 15° stimulus, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were examined before and 10 days after intravitreal Bevacizumab.
Results::
The best-corrected visual acuity before intravitreal Bevacizumab ranged from 0.3 to 0.6 and after 10 days ranged 0.3 to 0.7. FMERGs before intravitreal Bevacizumab were markedly reduced in all eyes. The mean amplitudes of the a-wave before, and 10 days after intravitreal Bevacizumab were 0.36 ± 0.11 µV and 0.47 ± 0.12 µV (mean ± SEM), respectively. The mean amplitudes of the b-wave before, and after 10 days were 1.17 ± 0.19 µV, and 1.53 ± 0.28 µV, respectively. An increase of >30 % in the amplitude was defined as an improvement, and a decrease of >30 % was defined as a worsening. At 10 days after intravitreal Bevacizumab, the a-wave in 3 eyes, and the b-wave in 4 eyes were improved, and none had decreased. The mean macular thickness within a 3 mm diameter circle centered on the fovea was 284.1 ± 11.5 µm before and 274.0 ± 9.9 µm 10 days after intravitreal Bevacizumab (P > 0.05).
Conclusions::
The lack of significant changes of in the macular thickness and only minor improvement of the FMERGs indicate that macular function and morphology are not altered significantly 10 days after intravitreal Bevacizumab. These findings suggest that Bevacizumab is not as damaging as PDT.
Clinical Trial::
Nagoya Univ School of Medicine clinical trial
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • electroretinography: clinical • choroid: neovascularization