Effect of subconjunctival antivascular endothelial growth factor on corneal neovascularization after penetrating keratoplasty

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of subconjunctival anti-VEGF on corneal neovascularisation post penetrating keratoplasty. Methods: A total of 31 eyes of 31 patients with corneal neovascularisation post penetrating keratoplasty were subjected to 2.5 mg/0.1 ml of subconjunctival bevacizumab in each quadrant of neovascularisation. We evaluated the regression of corneal neovascularisation after subconjunctival bevacizumab at 1 week, 4 weeks and 6 weeks and the incidence of complications and subjective complaints related to the treatment was also noted. Results: This was an experimental study, conducted from September 2015 to September 2016. A total of 31 patients with corneal neovascularisation post penetrating keratoplasty were included in the study, out of which 27(87.1%) were males and 4(12.9%) were females. 90.3% of patients had neovascularisation in all 4 quadrants, 6.5% had neovascularisation in 2 quadrants and only 3.2% had neovascularisation in only 1 quadrant. All patients who were subjected to subconjunctival bevcizumab, the regression of neovascularisation at 1 week, 4 weeks and 6 weeks was noted and there was a significant decrease in neovascularisation in central segments 1.97 ± 3.72 as compared to pre 5.13 ±7.12(p=0.001) and also in peripheral segments at 6 weeks 29.90 ± 15.73 as compared to pre bevacizumab 44.32 ± 17.97(p