Retinal pigment epithelial tears after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization.
OBJECTIVE
To detect retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears in predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) treated with intravitreal bevacizumab injections.


METHODS
Forty consecutive patients with predominantly classic CNV secondary to AMD were treated with 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab. Patients were evaluated with visual acuity (VA) measured with Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study charts, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography.


RESULTS
Three patients developed a RPE tear after the first injection. The first patient had been treated with verteporfin therapy and VA remained unchanged. In the other two cases the CNV was naive and VA improved since the foveal center was not involved by the tear and macular edema was reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
RPE tears can occur following intravitreal bevacizumab injections in patients with predominantly classic CNV although VA is not always affected.
Department of Ophthalmology, Bellvitge University Hospital, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. luisarias@telefonica
L
L
Arias
J M
JM
Caminal
M
M
Rubio
O
O
Pujol
J
J
Arruga
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D012167:Retinal Perforations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014822:Vitreous Body
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab