MACULAR CHOROIDAL VOLUME CHANGES AFTER INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB FOR EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Abstract

Purpose: 

To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on the macular choroidal volume and the subfoveal choroidal thickness in treatment naïve eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration.

Methods: 

The macular choroidal volume and the subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. After a screening examination, each patient received 3 monthly intravitreal injections of 1.25 mg bevacizumab. One month after the third injection was a final assessment.

Results: 

Forty-seven patients with a mean age of 80 ± 6.4 years were included. The macular choroidal volume decreased significantly from median 4.1 mm³ (interquartile range 3.4–5.9) to median 3.9 mm³ (interquartile range 3.1–5.6) between the baseline and final examination (difference −0.46 mm³, 95% confidence interval: −0.57 to 0.35, P < 0.001). Similarly, subfoveal choroidal thickness had decreased from 157.0 μm (interquartile range 116.0–244.5) at baseline to 139.0 μm (interquartile range 102.5–212.0) at the final examination (P < 0.001). Both parameters macular choroidal volume at baseline and subfoveal choroidal thickness at baseline were not associated with the response to treatment.

Conclusion: 

The macular choroidal volume and the subfoveal choroidal thickness decreased significantly after 3 monthly bevacizumab injections for exudative age-related macular degeneration.

In Brief

The present study evaluated the effect of three consecutive intravitreal bevacizumab injections on the choroidal volume and the choroidal thickness in patients with exudative age-related macular degeneration. Forty-seven patients were included in this study. Its findings showed a significant reduction in choroidal volume and choroidal thickness.