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Improvements in visual acuity within one year following intravitreal bevacizumab in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration
Author(s) -
JAKI MEKJAVIC P,
KRAUT A,
URBANCIC M,
LENASSI E,
HAWLINA M
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.622.x
Subject(s) - medicine , bevacizumab , macular degeneration , ophthalmology , visual acuity , fluorescein angiography , retinal , surgery , chemotherapy
Purpose To evaluate the effects of intravitreal treatment with bevacizumab on vision and anatomic outcome in patients with neovascular AMD. Methods Retrospective review of 153 eyes that received three or more intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (1.25 mg) for neovascular AMD over a one‐year period. Patients underwent ophthalmological examinations, measurements of the best‐corrected visual acuity (VA), fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography, at baseline and at monthly follow‐up visits. Repeated injections were given in the presence of persistent leakage or retinal oedema. We analyzed the data obtained at three time intervals: 1 month (first evaluation) after the third injection, 6 months (second evaluation), and one year (third evaluation) after the onset of treatment. Changes from baseline in VA, central retinal thickness (CRT), and total macular volume (TMV) were analyzed using paired t‐tests. Results Mean baseline VA improved from 50.5 to 57.6 letters (P < 0.0001, N = 153) at first evaluation, 58.3 letters (P < 0.0001, N = 119) at second evaluation, and 59.5 letters (P = 0.002, N = 48) at third evaluation. Baseline mean CRT (344.6 μm) and baseline mean TMV (8.6 mm3) decreased at the first evaluation, to 219.0 μm (P < 0.0001) and 7.2 mm3 (P < 0.0001), respectively. No systemic or serious ocular side effects were noted. Conclusion Intravitreal bevacizumab is an effective treatment for neovascular AMD, resulting in significant functional and anatomical improvement seen up to one year. After one year, VA in 27% of patients was improved by 15 letters or more, was maintained stable in 67% of patients, and was worsened by 15 letters or more in 6% of patients.