USE OF INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB IN OCULAR DISEASES

ABSTRACT
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of monthly intravitreal Bevacizumab injections in improving or stabilizing visual outcomes
measured by Snellen’s Visual acuity charts for a variety of ocular diseases.
Material and Methods: This was a prospective private clinic based study in which a total number of 54 eyes of 40
patients with various ocular diseases were included. Intravitreal Bevacizumab injections 1.25mg in 0.05ml was given
monthly for 3 months and follow up for 06 months after the first injection was carried out. The criteria for improvement
was a gain of at least one line on Snellen’s Visual acuity chart, compared to the baseline while stabilization was considered
if the Visual acuity was unchanged relative to the baseline.
Results: A total number of 54 eyes of 40 patients were included in the study. Males were 20 and females were also 20
with an age range of 35-75 years. They were given intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab. In patients with Proliferative
Diabetic retinopathy (PDR) with vitreous hemorrhage 15 eyes (93.75%) showed improvement while stabilization of visual
acuity was noted in 01 eye (6.25%). In Diabetic macular edema (DME) 15 eyes (68.18%) showed improvement, 05 eyes
(22.72%) were stabilized and in 02 eyes (9.09%) visual loss continued. Five eyes (62.5%) with neovascular Age related
macular degeneration (ARMD) showed improvement while visual acuity was stabilized in 03 eyes (37.5%). In Central
retinal venous occlusion (CRVO) 02 eyes (100%) showed improvement. Out of the 04 eyes of Branch retinal venous
occlusion (BRVO) all eyes showed visual improvement (100%). Both eyes (100%) of Myopic choroidal neovascular
membrane (CNV) patients also showed improvement. No systemic side effects of the given treatment were observed.
Conclusion: The treatment with Bevacizumab is beneficial in improving and stabilizing Visual acuity not only in neovascular
ARMD but also in other chorioretinal vascular disorders.