Central Retinal Sensitivity After Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab for Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization

Purpose

To evaluate retinal sensitivity in the macular area after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in eyes with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).

Design

Prospective interventional case series.

Methods

Twenty-two eyes of 21 patients with mCNV were treated with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab. Microperimetry in the macular area was performed with a Micro Perimeter-1 (Nidek, Vigonza, Italy) before, and at 1 month and 6 months after treatment.

Results

After treatment, visual acuity (VA) and central retinal sensitivity were improved significantly. Mean VA in logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) fashion improved from 0.67 ± 0.34 to 0.43 ± 0.33 at 1 month, and to 0.34 ± 0.26 at 6 months [P < .01, respectively]. Mean retinal sensitivity within the central 10 degrees field improved from 4.8 ± 2.8 decibels (dB) to 6.5 ± 3.2 dB at 1 month and to 7.4 ± 4.4 dB at 6 months [P < .01, respectively]. These improvements were more prominent in eyes with juxtafoveal mCNV than in eyes with subfoveal mCNV. With treatment, the mean number of measurement points within the scotomas decreased significantly; the absolute scotoma was reduced substantially in 15 (68%) eyes at 6 months. Unfortunately, the absolute scotoma was significantly enlarged in 1 eye (5%) at 1 month and in 4 eyes (18%) at 6 months. Also at 6 months, chorioretinal atrophy had developed in the macular area in 4 eyes (18%).

Conclusions

Although intravitreal injection of bevacizumab improved retinal sensitivity in the macular area, some eyes showed enlargement of the scotoma after this treatment.