SUBCONJUCTIVAL INJECTION OF BEVACIZUMAB IN CORNEAL NEOVASCULARIZATION

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this work was to assess the outcome of subconjunctival bevacizumab(Avastin) injection in patients with corneal neovascularization (NV). Methods: Twenty eyes oftwenty patients (13 male and 7 female) with corneal neovascularization resulted from variableocular surface disorders were included in this prospective, non-controlled study. All eyesreceived a single subconjunctival injection of 2.5 mg (0.1 ml) bevacizumab using 1 ml syringe27 Guage needle. Morphological changes in the major and minor vessels were studied by slitlamp biomicroscopy and corneal photography pre-injection and one week, 2 months and 6months post injection. Results: Obvious recession of minor vessels of Corneal NV was noticedin most eyes at first week post-injection. The extent of corneal neovascularization of the majorvessels was significantly decreased 1weeks post-injection. This decrease continued noticeablyfor 6 months. Conclusions: Bevacizumab can be safely and effectively used in corneal NVtreatment. It can be considered in the treatment of both minor and major vessel NV resultedfrom long standing chronic inflammation (trachoma), long-standing corneal ischemia (followingcontact lens wear) and other different causes. Bevacizumab was well tolerated over themonitoring period in this research. Further controlled and long term studies are required to fullyevaluate the long term effects of this recent treatment.