Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the effect of bevacizumab on microperimetry, ocular coherence tomography, and visual acuity in patients with exudative macular degeneration.
Methods: :
29 patient with subretinal neovascular membrane secondary to exudative macular degeneration unresponsive to prior treatment with pentaptanib underwent intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. Pre–injection examination included determination of visual acuity, microperimetry (MP–1), and ocular coherence tomography (OCT). All testing was repeated on serial follow–up examinations at four to six–week intervals.
Results: :
Intravitreal injection was well–tolerated in all patients. No patients developed vitreous hemorrhage, infection, uveitis, or increased intraocular pressure. The size and density of the scotoma measured by MP–1 testing and the central macular thickness measured by OCT improved in nearly all treated patients.
Conclusions: :
Bevacizumab appears to be promising as short–term treatment of exudative macular degeneration. Bevacizumab may show efficacy in patients with lesions refractive to treatment with pentaptanib and may be suitable for use in patients who do not respond to standard treatment.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • perimetry