Treatment of myopic neovascularization with ranibizumab

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To determine the safety and efficacy of ranibizumab, as a treatment of choroidal neovascularization associated with pathological myopia Methods A retrospective, non‐comparative study of 14 patients treated with injections of intravitreal Ranibizumab. Four patients had been treated before with photodynamic therapy and had not improved visual acuity, whereas the patients treated with ranibizumab improved visual acuity. After a complete ophtalmologic examination, fluorescein angiography (FAG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) intraocular injection was practised, retreatment was decided according to the subjective impression of the patient, visual acuity, presence or absence of metamorphopsia, biomicroscopy of posterior pole and characteristics of OCT. The patients were included after a minimal follow‐up of 6 months. Results We analysed 17 eyes of 14 patients. The average age of patients was 56 years. The spherical equivalent average was 13.6 diopters. The initial and final average visual acuity was 0,29 and 0,57 respectively. All neovascular membranes were classified as classical and localized sub or yuxtafoveal. Visual acuity improved or remained stable in all eyes. In all cases retinal thickness and macular edema observed in OCT decreased. There were no systemic or ocular complications, one patient responded with macular haemorrhage and decrease in visual acuity after four injections of ranibizumab. Conclusion The short‐term results of this small study suggest that Ranibizumab may be a good therapeutic option in the treatment of myopic neovascularisation. It improves visual acuity and anatomy, even in patients that don´t respond to photodynamic therapy.