title: Microperimetric changes after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for exudative age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on macular function in the cases of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 21 eyes of 21 patients with exudative AMD were included in this study. In each eye, at baseline and 1, 3 and 6 months after intravitreal bevacizumab injection, logMAR visual acuity, central 4° macular sensitivity, absolute scotoma size, fixation stability and fixation location by MP-1 microperimetry and optical coherence tomography (OCT) foveal morphologic changes were assessed. After the initial treatment phase which included three consecutive injections, the decision to re-treat was based on OCT and clinical findings. Subsequent injections could be administered at least 1 month after the previous injection period according to the OCT-guided treatment regimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean retinal sensitivity within central 4° (12 points) area had increased from 3.69 ± 3.44 dB at baseline to 7.16 ± 3.27 dB at month 6. In all controls after the treatment, there was significant increase in logMAR visual acuity (p < 0.001) and MP-1 retinal sensitivity (p < 0.001). Mean absolute scotoma in test point location had decreased significantly from 12 of the 76 applied test point locations measured at baseline to five test point locations (-7 test point locations; p < 0.001) at month 6 showing statistical significance. Fixation properties had preserved in all patients 6 months after intravitreal bevacizumab treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravitreal bevacizumab therapy induced a significant increase in mean retinal sensitivity and significant decrease in mean absolute scotoma size during 6 months. The MP1 microperimetry proved to be a valuable tool in the evaluation of functional benefit of exudative AMD therapy with intravitreal bevacizumab.
authors.affiliation: The Istanbul Retina Institute, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karacorlu
authors.forename: Fevzi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Senturk
authors.forename: Serra Arf
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Karacorlu
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uysal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D019233:Retreatment; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab