Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Subfoveal Choroidal Neovascularization Secondary to Pattern Dystrophy

Purpose To assess the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVBI) in the treatment of choroideal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to pattern dystrophy (PD) of the retinal pigment epithelium. Methods Prospective interventional case series. Patients with PD complicated by CNV were considered. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, including ETDRS visual acuity, electroretinogram, electrooculogram, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography. The protocol required 3 monthly consecutive IVBI, followed by repeat injections on the basis of OCT parameters and angiographic features over the 24-month follow-up. Results Twelve patients completed the planned visits and were considered for the purpose of the study. Mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and mean central macular thickness (CMT) at the baseline were 0.73±0.34 (logMAR±SD) and 276±95µm SD, respectively. At three-month examination, mean BCVA significantly improved to 0.48±0.27, whereas mean CMT decreased to 220±71µm SD. At 12-month examination, mean BCVA was 0.45±0.24, and mean CMT was 209±53µm. At the 24-month examination, mean BCVA showed a substantial stabilization whereas mean CMT decreased to 199±34µm. No side-effect or complication was registered. Conclusions IVBI is a valuable treatment for subfoveal CNV associated with PD over a 2-year follow-up. Further studies are necessary to validate our results, and to examine other morpho-functional parameters such as fundus autofluorescence and retinal sensitivity changes.