Subconjunctival bevacizumab for corneal neovascularization

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Vascular Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Corneal neovascularization (CNV) poses a significant threat to vision, often resulting from diverse ocular surface disorders.
• Existing treatments for CNV can be limited in efficacy and carry potential risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of subconjunctival bevacizumab injections for treating corneal neovascularization (CNV).
• To assess the impact of bevacizumab on both major and minor corneal vessels in eyes with various ocular surface conditions.

Main Methods:

• Ten eyes diagnosed with CNV from conditions like healed ulcers, chronic inflammation, and corneal ischemia were included.
• A single subconjunctival injection of 2.5mg bevacizumab was administered to each affected eye.
• Slit-lamp biomicroscopy and corneal photography were used to monitor morphological changes in corneal vessels post-injection.

Main Results:

• All patients exhibited a noticeable reduction in minor corneal vessels within two weeks.
• Significant decreases in both major and minor CNV were observed, with a mean reduction of 33% in total CNV area.
• Corneal neovascularization reduced from 14.0% to 9.4% of the corneal surface, and from 4.3 to 2.4 clock hours over six months.
• No complications related to the subconjunctival bevacizumab injection were reported during the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Subconjunctival bevacizumab is a safe and effective treatment for corneal neovascularization stemming from various ocular surface disorders.
• The treatment shows particular promise for neovascularization caused by chronic inflammation or corneal ischemia.
• Bevacizumab demonstrated good tolerability and sustained efficacy over a six-month observation period.