AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of photocoagulation alone or combined with intravitreal Bevacizumab for radiation retinopathy(RR).

METHODS: There were 43 patients(43 eyes)with RR were collected at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital Sun Yet-Sen University between Jan. 2009 and Jan. 2014. Twenty-one patients received the photocoagulation treatment combined with intravitreal bevacizumab and 22 patients received the treatment of photocoagulation alone. All the patients would complete ophthalmologic examinations, including best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, optical coherence tomography, fundus fluorescein angiography before and after the treatment.

RESULTS: BCVA: In monotherapy group, there were no statistically difference about BCVA before and after treatment(P>0.05). In combined therapy group, the BCVA had been increasing gradually in 2wk, 1, 3, 6mo after treatment(P<0.05). There was no significant difference about BCVA before and 1a after treatment(P>0.05). In the comparison of BCVA in these two groups in 2wk, 1, 3, 6mo after treatment, the combined therapy group were better than monotherapy group in each time point(P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference was observed in these two groups at 1a after treatment(P>0.05). Central macular thickness(CMT): in monotherapy group, the CMT had been decreasing gradually in 2wk, 1, 3, 6mo after treatment(P<0.05). There was no significant difference about CMT before and after 1a treatment(P>0.05). In combined therapy group, the CMT had been decreasing gradually in 2wk, 1, 3, 6mo after treatment(P<0.05). There was no significant difference about CMT before and 1a after treatment(P>0.05). In the comparison of CMT between these two groups in the 2wk, 1, 3, 6mo after treatment, those of combined therapy group were thinner and difference were statistically significant(P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference was observed in two groups at 1a after treatment(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Photocoagulation combined with intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of radiation retinopathy both have an effect on reducing the macular edema in a short time(6mo). But the long-term efficacy is poor.