Intraocular Bevacizumab (Avastin) for the Treatment for Central and Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Abstract

Purpose: : To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab as either rescue therapy or primary treatment for branch and central retinal vein occlusions.

Methods: : A retrospective review was conducted on eyes with either central or branch retinal vein occlusions that were treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25mg in 0.05ml) between August 2005 and December 2005. Assessment of treatment efficacy was determined using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Snellen visual acuity both pre and post treatment.

Results: : 8 eyes of 8 patients with a mean age of 73 years (range 62 to 91) underwent intravitreal injections with bevazicumab for either central (7 patients) or branch (1 patient) retinal vein occlusion. Pre–injection VA measured either count fingers (4 patients) or 20/200 (4 patients). At 1 month follow–up mean central foveal thickness (CFT) determined by OCT improved in 6 of 8 patients, with a mean reduction from 566 um (range 255 to 934 um) pre injection to 440 um (range 210 to 771 um), a 30.3% change in standardized central foveal thickness. No injection complications or drug–related side effects were observed.

Conclusions: : At 1 month intravitreal bevazicumab appears in this limited number of patients to produce a significant reduction in standardized central foveal thickness. Additional follow–up is needed to determine if repeated treatment with Avastin results in further reductions of standardized central foveal thickness and improvement in patients’ vision.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications