Safety and Efficacy of Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization in Pathologic Myopia. Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: : To determine the safety an efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in pathologic myopia

Methods: : Prospective interventional case series. Seventeen consecutive patients (18 eyes) with subfoveal CNV due pathologic myopia were treated with 0.1ml ( 1.25 mg )of intravitreal bevacizumab and followed for at least 3 months. Safety, clinical appearance, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA, multifocal electroretinogram (mERG) and physical examination including systemic pressure were recorded. Indications for retreatment were an active, leaking CNV in combination with visual disturbances or visual loss

Results: : Mean age was 53.78 +– 13.28 years (range 29 to 77 years), 10 patients were female. Mean follow–up was 3 months. There were no serious ocular or systemic adverse events. The mean initial BCVA was 20/300 that improve significantly to 20/80 at the four week (Friedman Test, p= 0.001). The inicial foveal thickness improve from 353.44 +– 163.07 micra to 253.50 +– 90.02 micra after four week (Wilconxon Test, p= 0.002)

Conclusions: : Intravitreal bevacizumab is safe. Statistically significant improvement was demonstrated regarding BCVA and foveal thickness. Long term follow–up is neediest.

Keywords: retina • myopia • choroid: neovascularization