Abstract
Purpose::
To report the short-term effect of intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).
Methods::
In a retrospective study we evaluated the charts of 47 patients (47 eyes) aged 70 - 92 years (mean 81 ± 5 years) with subfoveal neovascular ARMD. All patients were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) every six weeks until leakage in fluorescence angiogram resolved or stabilized. Best corrected visual acuity (VA), fluorescein angiography (FA) (HRA, Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Stratus, Carl Zeiss Meditech, Jena, Germany) were evaluated before treatment and at last follow-up visit.
Results::
103 injections were performed (mean 2.2±1.0, range 1 - 5), average follow-up time was 6.5 ± 2.1 months (range 3 - 12 months). VA was stable or improved in 40 (85%) eyes (baseline Log MAR: 0.84 ± 0.35, last follow-up Log MAR: 0.81 ± 0.56; p > 0.05). Fluorescein angiography revealed a reduction in leakage in 91% of eyes at the last follow-up visit. Central retinal thickness assessed with the OCT showed a significant reduction from baseline to the last follow-up visit (290 ± 94 µm vs. 249 ± 66 µm; p < 0.01). During follow-up 3 eyes developed an RPE-rip. No other significant ocular or systemic side effects were observed.
Conclusions::
Short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg) is well tolerated and associated with stabilization or improvement of VA, favorable FA findings and decreased central retinal thickness in most patients with exudative ARMD.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • injection • visual acuity