Management of Corneal Neovascularization With Diathermy and Intrastromal Bevacizumab Injection

To evaluate the outcomes of patients with corneal neovascularization treated with intrastromal injection of bevacizumab and corneal fine needle diathermy (FND).

This is a retrospective case series of six patients with at least 6 months follow-up after intrastromal injection of bevacizumab and FND. The main outcome measures include change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and regression of corneal neovascularization at follow-up. Slitlamp photographs were taken pre and post procedure.

The mean age of the patients was 64.2 years, and the baseline BCVA ranged from 20/40 to 20/100. At postoperative months 1 and 6, all patients had improvement in corneal neovascularization, with 67% (4/6) showing total resolution while 33% (2/3) had residual deep fine vessels. Best-corrected visual acuity improved in two patients and remained stable in four patients. Two patients had improvement in lipid keratopathy at 6 months.

Combined intrastromal injection of bevacizumab and FND is an effective treatment for corneal neovascularization.