Abstract
Purpose::
To identify the short-term effect, safety, and durability of intravitreally injected Bevacizumab in patients with macular edema (ME) due to retinal vein obstruction (RVO) and diabetic macular edema (DME).
Methods::
We retrospectively evaluated 37 eyes of 34 patients, 12 with ME due to RVO and 25 with DME, who received intravitreal Bevacizumab (1.2 mg) and were followed up for at least 3 months. Monthly assessments of safety, changes in Snellen equivalent visual acuity (VA), and OCT retinal thickness (RT) were performed.
Results::
No significant ocular or systemic side effects were observed. Baseline mean VA was 0.195 ±0.156 and central retinal thickness was 549.1 ± 191.0 µm. At 1, 2, and 3 months, the mean VA was 0.305 ± 0.261 (paired t-test, p<0.01), 0.306 ± 0.257 (p<0.01), and 0.279 ± 0.225 (p=0.01), respectively, and the mean RT was 330.9 ± 152.0 (p<0.01), 330.5 ±138.2 (p<0.01), and 387.8 ±131.9 (p<0.01), respectively. Nine of 14 eyes (64%) with more than 3 months follow up required a second injection, at a mean of 3.6 months after first injection. Significant response through 3 months was observed in eyes with ME due to RVO and DME, although the former showed a tendency toward more rapid and profound improvement than the latter.
Conclusions::
Intravitreal Bevacizumab injection in ME due to RVO and DME was safe and effective for improving VA and reducing RT. These effects, however, were transient, with repeat injections needed in many cases after 3 months.
Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • macula/fovea • edema