Abstract
Objectives:To analyze the current preferences of ophthalmologists for the treatment of macular edema and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to evaluate off-label use of bevacizumab in Turkey.Materials and Methods:All members of the Turkish Ophthalmological Association were contacted by e-mail to complete an anonymous, 47-question internet-based survey. The second part of the survey (questions 36-47) was evaluated.Results:When current legal regulations were considered, ophthalmologists used bevacizumab as the first-line agent in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME), AMD, and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) (58.25%, 55.89%, and 52.29%, respectively). When economic and legal constraints were disregarded, the participants’ preference for bevacizumab in the treatment of DME, AMD, and RVO decreased (11.64%, 10.58%, and 10.93%, respectively). Approximately three-quarters (75.75%) of ophthalmologists stated that dispensing multiple syringes from a single bevacizumab bottle could increase the risk of endophthalmitis. Most participants (93.68%) did not feel legally safe from harm caused by off-label bevacizumab use. However, 66.43% of ophthalmologists stated that bevacizumab is as effective as other anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) drugs.Conclusion:Bevacizumab is widely used as a first-line treatment for all indications of anti-VEGF use in the current reimbursement conditions, which preclude the right of ophthalmologists to treat according to their own preferences.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
