AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab(avastin)injection in patients with exudative age related macular degeneration(AMD).

METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1.75mg bevacizumab for AMD were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein and/or indocyanine green angiography. Observation was made on the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, and the changes of lens, vitreous, central retinal thickness(CFT)and total macular volume(TMV), at 1d, 3d, 7d, 1mo and 6mo after the treatment and then compared with those of pre-operation. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. And all cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab(1.75mg)was given once every 6wk.

RESULTS: All 50 eyes of 48 patients with the average of 58±20.46 years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA and CFT were 0.82±0.53, and 364.97±151.83μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT and TMV one week after the injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. At the last visit of 9.7mo follow-up, BCVA, CRT and TMV showed significant improvements over baseline values. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 32 eyes(64%),remained stabilization in 18 eyes(36%)at the last visit. A total of 98 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1.98 for each eye in the group. About 50% of re-injections gained at least two lines of vision improvement one week postoperatively. There were no serious adverse events during the treatment.

CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab(avastin)injection for managing CNV due to age-related macular degeneration is safe and few side effects. Intravitreal avastin associated with improvement in visual acuity(VA), which can reduce macular edema and choroidal neovascularization leakage.But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation.