Intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for myopic choroidal neovascularization: six-month results of a prospective pilot study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pathologic myopia (PM).

DESIGN

Prospective, consecutive, nonrandomized, interventional case series.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-two eyes of 22 patients with CNV secondary to PM.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with subfoveal or juxtafoveal CNV secondary to PM were recruited prospectively to receive an initial course of 3 monthly intravitreal injections of bevacizumab. Three additional monthly injections were performed in eyes with persistent CNV leakage after 3 months. Patients were followed up for 6 months, and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), changes in fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) results were assessed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes in BCVA, angiographic closure, and OCT central foveal thickness (CFT) at the 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean+/-standard deviation (SD) spherical equivalent refractive error of the 22 eyes was -10.3+/-3.7 D (range, -6.0D to -18.0D). All patients completed follow-up at 6 months. Twenty (90.9%) eyes had angiographic closure after 3 monthly injections of intravitreal bevacizumab, and 2 (9.1%) eyes required further treatment up to 6 months. The mean+/-SD logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA at baseline was 0.60+/-0.18 (Snellen equivalent, 20/80). At 1 and 6 months, the mean+/-SD logMAR BCVA improved significantly to 0.43 (Snellen equivalent, 20/53; P = 0.003) and 0.35 (Snellen equivalent, 20/45; P<0.001), respectively. The mean lines of improvements at 1 and 6 month compared with baseline were 1.7 and 2.6 lines, respectively. Fifteen (68.2%) eyes had an improvement of 2 or more lines at 6 months. The OCT results also showed significant reduction in CFT after treatment. No ocular or systemic complications were noted after intravitreal injections.

CONCLUSIONS

The 6-month outcomes suggest intravitreal bevacizumab to be a promising treatment method for CNV secondary to PM, resulting in both visual and anatomic improvements. Treatment resulted in complete absence of angiographic leakage in 90.9% of eyes at 3 months. Further studies to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and optimal treatment regimen are justified.