Treatment with Bevacizumab in Exudative Age-related Macular Degeneration

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the preliminary results of treatment with Bevacizumab (Avastin) in the neovascular or wet form of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients (38 eyes) received Avastin intravitreally. Every patient received 3 Avastin injections at a distance of 1 month. Each dose consisted of 2.5 mg (0.1 ml) of Avastin. The therapeutical effect has been evaluated by the value of visual acuity and the central retinal thickness before and after treatment. In order to measure the visual acuity, the classical optotipe was used and the central retinal thickness was evaluated by optical coherence tomography. The follow-up period was 6 months after the last injection.
Results: A number of 28 eyes (74%) had a favorable evolution of visual acuity, 7 eyes (18%) presented a stationary evolution and 3 eyes (8%) had an unfavorable outcome. The highest values were obtained at 1 month after the last injection (control 1). The optical coherence tomo-graphy decreased in 30 eyes (79%) and increased in 8 eyes (21%).
Conclusion: The evolution of visual acuity and central retinal thickness was predominantly favorable in 74% and 79% of the cases, respectively. We observed a direct correlation between the visual acuity and morphological parameters evaluated by optical coherence tomography, in 26 eyes (68%). Most patients described an improvement in the quality of vision, even when the visual acuity remained unchanged.