Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) as primary treatment for myopic choroidal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab in myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).


METHODS
In this noncomparative, consecutive, interventional case series, 12 eyes of 11 patients with mCNV without any previous treatment were included. Patients received intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) at baseline and at 4 weeks interval, if optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed presence of intraretinal edema, subretinal fluid, and/or pigment epithelial detachment. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 6 months and changes in best-corrected visual acuity, central macular thickness (CMT) on OCT, angiographic characteristics, and complications were assessed.


RESULTS
The mean refractive error was -11.25 diopters. At 6 months the mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 20/235 (median 20/235) to 20/71 (median 20/80) (p=0.01). The mean CMT was reduced from 403 microm (median 365 microm) to 229 microm (median 239 microm) (p=0.002). At final visit 9 eyes (75%) had an improvement of BCVA of three lines or more, and only 1 eye (8%) lost two lines. No significant ocular or untoward systemic side effects were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small series short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) is safe, effective, and well tolerated in patients with choroidal neovascularization due to high myopia. Further evaluation in large series with longer follow-up is needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety in such cases.
Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
S
S
Mandal
P
P
Venkatesh
R
R
Sampangi
S
S
Garg
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019233:Retreatment; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab