Short-Term Effect of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection for Choroidal Neovascularization Associated With Degenerative Myopia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection for choroidal neovascularization associated with degenerative myopia. METHODS: In 15 eyes of 15 patients, one or two consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injections were given. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and fundus examination were evaluated at baseline and monthly thereafter. Fluorescence angiography (FA) was performed at baseline, 1 month and 3 months after treatment. When the angiographic leakage persisted 1 month after the first injection, a second injection was administered. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 9.7 months. The mean logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) BCVA was 0.81+/-0.44 at baseline, 0.64+/-0.41 at 3 months (p=0.005), and 0.60+/-0.41 (p=0.001) at the final examination. Five eyes received a single injection, while the other ten eyes had two consecutive injections. Three months after the first injection, 14 eyes (93.3%) had no angiographic leakage, and 1 eye (6.7%) showed a decrease in leakage. The mean lines of visual improvement at 3 months and at the final examination were 1.7 and 2.1 lines, respectively. No case of vision loss was observed throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: One or two consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injections had favorable short-term effects on visual acuity stabilization and the regression of choroidal neovascularization associated with neovascular degenerative myopia.