Effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin®) in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration using a treatment regimen based on optical coherence tomography: 6‐ and 12‐month results

Purpose: To study the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab therapy on visual and anatomical outcomes in patients with neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) within a follow‐up period of 6 and 12 months. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 102 eyes of 102 consecutive patients with neovascular AMD evaluated repeated intravitreal bevacizumab (1 or 2.5 mg) injections. Retreatment was performed following an optical coherence tomography (OCT)‐based regimen. Ophthalmic examination included best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA), dilated fundus examination and OCT imaging. Data were analysed at baseline, 6 months (24 weeks) and 12 months (48 weeks) after treatment initiation. Results: BCVA remained stable at 6 months (mean: 0.00 ± 0.41 logMAR; p = 0.95) and 12 months (mean: +0.02 ± 0.43 logMAR; loss of ～ 1 letter; p = 0.70) after the first treatment. OCT retinal thickness decreased by a mean of ?37.8 ± 101.6 μm (p < 0.05) compared to baseline at month 6 and ?38.6 ± 93.3 μm (p < 0.05) at month 12. A mean of 2.6 ± 1.2 injections were needed to obtain absence of fluid by OCT, and the time to recurrence was 23 ± 11 weeks thereafter. There was no difference in BCVA and OCT outcomes between treatment‐naive eyes and eyes that had undergone prior treatment. Conclusion: The 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐up of repeated intravitreal bevacizumab therapy in eyes with neovascular AMD demonstrated stabilization of vision and no safety concerns. An OCT‐based retreatment strategy appears appropriate in the management of patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab.