Long-Term Outcome and Recurrence of Idiopathic Choroidal Neovascularization Treated with Intravitreal Bevacizumab

To evaluate the long-term outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab treatment for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and to investigative the influence of CNV recurrence on visual prognosis.

This retrospective study included 26 patients (26 eyes) who had been diagnosed with idiopathic CNV and followed up for at least 2 years. All the eyes included had been treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at diagnosis was compared with that at final follow-up. The final BCVA of patients who experienced CNV recurrence was compared with that of patients who did not.

The mean follow-up period after diagnosis was 33.9 ± 10.6 months. During this period, a mean of 2.5 ± 1.7 bevacizumab injections were administered. The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVAs at diagnosis, 6 months, 12 months, and final follow-up was 0.48 ± 0.38, 0.28 ± 0.36, 0.25 ± 0.35, and 0.20 ± 0.26, respectively. The final BCVA was significantly improved over the baseline value. CNV recurred in 8 patients (30.8%), 3 of whom experienced 2 recurrences; the mean timing of recurrence was 19.7 ± 15.5 months after diagnosis. The final BCVA in patients who experienced recurrence (mean 0.21 ± 0.19 logMAR) did not differ from that in patients who did not (mean 0.19 ± 0.29 logMAR).

The long-term outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab treatment for idiopathic CNV was generally favorable. Although CNV recurrence was noted in 30.8% of patients, the recurrence may not significantly influence long-term visual prognosis.