Intravitreal bevacizumab for subfoveal idiopathic choroidal neovascularization

To evaluate the short-term visual and anatomical outcomes and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab in subfoveal idiopathic choroidal neovascularization.

Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with idiopathic choroidal neovascularization received intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) in this prospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. Injection was repeated if optical coherence tomography showed intraretinal edema, subretinal fluid, and/or pigment epithelial detachment at a 4-week interval. Ophthalmic evaluations included best-corrected visual acuity, optical coherence tomography, and fundus fluorescein angiography. Patients were followed up for at least 12 weeks.

The mean follow-up period was 4.2 months. At 12 weeks, the mean best-corrected visual acuity improved from 20/133 (median, 20/200) to 20/50 (median, 20/40) (P < .001). The mean central macular thickness was reduced from 314.37 microm to 236.84 microm (P < .001). At the final visit, 19 eyes (59%) had an improvement of best-corrected visual acuity of 3 or more lines, 11 eyes (34%) remained stable, and 2 eyes (6%) lost 3 or more lines. No significant ocular or systemic adverse effects were observed.

Short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab is safe and well tolerated in idiopathic choroidal neovascularization. Many patients showed marked improvement in visual acuity and a decrease in central macular thickness. Further evaluation with longer follow-up is needed to confirm long-term efficacy and safety.