title: Intravitreal bevacizumab versus photodynamic therapy for myopic choroidal neovascularization in a North-African population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the 1-year functional and anatomical outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in patients with myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of retrospectively collected data of 80 eyes in 80 patients with myopic CNV treated with standard PDT (n = 40) or IVB (1.25 mg/ 0.05 ml) (n = 40). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) measured with optical coherence tomography (OCT) were compared between the two groups at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the IVB group, mean BCVA was +0.9 ± 0.85 logMAR at baseline. Mean BCVA was significantly better at 3 and 6 months than baseline (p = .0095 and p = .008, respectively) but not at 12 months (p = .065). In the PDT group, mean BCVA was +0.88 ± 0.45 logMAR at baseline, and improved to +0.85 ± 0.62 logMAR at 3 months and to +0.86 ± 0.44 logMAR at 6 months, which was not significantly different from baseline. Mean BCVA then decreased to +0.9 ± 0.54 logMAR at 12 months (p = .85). Mean logMAR VA was significantly better in the IVB group than in the PDT group after 3 months (p = .0043), 6 months (p = .0001) and 12 months (p = .0168). Mean CRT was significantly lower in IVB group than in PDT group at 3, 6 and 12 months (p = .008, p = .038, p = .040, respectively). Chorioretinal atrophy developed in six eyes (15%) treated with IVB and in 24 eyes (60%) treated with PDT at 12 months (p = 3.2 × 10(-5)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over a 12-month period, intravitreal bevacizumab seems to be superior to photodynamic therapy in controlling myopic CNV in a North-African population.
authors.affiliation: Department B of Ophthalmology, Hedi Rais Institute of Ophthalmology, Boulevard 9 Avril 1006 Bab Saadoun, Tunis, Tunisia. Leila.elmatri@rns.tn
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: El Matri
authors.forename: Fedra
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kort
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chebil
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouraoui
authors.forename: Ahlem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merdassi
authors.forename: Mejda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bouladi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D020256:Choroidal Neovascularization / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014416:Tunisia; D000077362:Verteporfin
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D000077362:Verteporfin; D000068258:Bevacizumab