title: Intravitreal bevacizumab treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration with good visual acuity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on the visual and anatomic outcome of patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration presenting with good visual acuity (VA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A file review was performed for all consecutive patients with newly diagnosed exudative age-related macular degeneration and initial VA of ≥ 20/40 treated in 2005 to 2010 and followed for at least 6 months. Treatment consisted of 3 loading doses of intravitreal bevacizumab every 6 weeks and was repeated when fluid or hemorrhage was present.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cohort included 130 patients (150 eyes). Mean follow-up was 20.2 ± 13.2 months, and mean number of injections was 11.3 ± 6.2. At the last examination, VA was stable or improved in 106 eyes (70.7%); 11 eyes (7.3%) lost ≥ 3 lines. Mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution VA measured 0.22 ± 0.1 (0-0.3) at presentation and 0.22 ± 0.2 (0-1.3) at the last visit. Corresponding values for central macular thickness were 267 ± 75 μm (137-562) and 226 ± 75 μm (75-568) (P = 0.14). The most frequent complication (18 eyes, 12%) was corneal epithelial defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prompt intravitreal bevacizumab treatment for newly diagnosed exudative age-related macular degeneration in patients with good initial best-corrected visual acuity is associated with sustained or improved vision and a good safety profile. Attempts should be made to expedite the access of these patients to treatment, regardless of initial VA.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petach Tikva, Israel. seegs@netvision.co.il
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Axer-Siegel
authors: Elite
authors: E
authors: Bor
authors: Dan H
authors: DH
authors: Bourla
authors: Dov
authors: D
authors: Weinberger
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Mimouni
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068258:Bevacizumab