Intravitreal bevacizumab for age-related macular degeneration with good visual acuity

Purpose To retrospectively study the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with good visual acuity (VA). Methods Fifteen eyes of 15 patients (mean age, 69.0 ± 11.3 years) with AMD whose VA was 0.6 or better were treated with IVB 1.25 mg/0.05 ml. The patients were followed for 12 to 29 months (mean, 17.4 ± 4.9 months). Results Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 (mean, 0.89 ± 0.21) at baseline and was stable in 13 of 15 eyes (86.7%) when BCVA was 0.6 or better at the end of follow-up. The VA levels did not differ significantly ( P = 0.42; paired t test) between baseline and the final examination. Two of the 15 eyes underwent photodynamic therapy during follow-up. The mean central retinal thickness significantly decreased from 278.4 ± 71.9 μm at baseline to 240.00 ± 58.5 μm at 3 months after the first IVB treatment ( P = 0.02; Wilcoxon signed rank test). During follow-up, a mean of two injections was administered, and 47% of patients required only one injection. No adverse events developed. Conclusion IVB was effective for maintaining good vision in exudative AMD in 15 eyes for at least 12 months.