Intracameral injection of bevacizumab for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma.

PURPOSE

To assess the duration of the effect of intracameral bevacizumab in patients presenting with rubeosis iridis and neovascular glaucoma (NVG).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 24 consecutive eyes of 24 patients with decompensated NVG (> 21 mm Hg) treated with a single intracameral injection of bevacizumab over a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The endpoint of the study was the need for retreatment due to recurrence of raised intraocular pressure (IOP). Secondary outcome was the course of visual acuity (VA) and IOP over 6 months.

RESULTS

A Kaplan-Meier calculation revealed a mean duration of the treatment effect of 23 ± 4.4 days. Compared to mean IOP before treatment (26.3 mm Hg), decreases to 17.5 mm Hg at 1 week after treatment (p < 0.002) and to 17.1 mm Hg (p < 0.005) at 6 months following a single injection were seen. At 6 months, additional treatment was performed in 87.5% (n = 21) of eyes. VA remained stable or improved in 75% (n = 18) of all cases.

CONCLUSION

The IOP-lowering effect of intracameral bevacizumab can be seen 1 week after the injection, but is limited to a period of approximately 3 weeks. However, the fast and effective response to intracameral bevacizumab injection opens a time window for additional treatments, which are often necessary.