Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (avastin) on the growing rabbit eye.

PURPOSE

To study the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) on the structure and growth of the young rabbit eye.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve 6-week-old rabbits underwent intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) in one eye and no injection in the other (study group). Six additional rabbits served as controls. Slit lamp examination, fundus evaluation, and measurements of corneal power, central corneal thickness, corneal astigmatism, and axial length were performed before treatment and 1, 2, and 3 months after. At 3 months, the rabbits were sacrificed for histological study.

RESULTS

Within the study group, there were no significant differences in clinical parameters between the bevacizumab-treated and fellow eyes at any timepoint or overall. The estimated confidence intervals extended to about one standard deviation of their respective values. Comparison of the injected eyes in the study group with the uninjected eyes in the control group yielded similar findings. There were no between-group differences in ocular growth and no abnormalities of the anterior and posterior segments or the retina and retinal vasculature.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravitreal bevacizumab apparently has no adverse effect on the growth and development of the young rabbit eye, in a biologically or statistically significant way.