Central retinal sensitivity after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for myopic choroidal neovascularization.

Objective: To evaluate retinal sensitivity in the macular area after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in eyes with myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV).

Methods: Prospective interventional case series. Methods: Twenty-two eyes of 21 patients with mCNV were treated with intravitreal injections of bevacizumab. Microperimetry in the macular area was performed with a Micro Perimeter-1 (Nidek, Vigonza, Italy) before, and at 1 month and 6 months after treatment.

Results: After treatment, visual acuity (VA) and central retinal sensitivity were improved significantly. Mean VA in logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) fashion improved from 0.67 +/- 0.34 to 0.43 +/- 0.33 at 1 month, and to 0.34 +/- 0.26 at 6 months [P < .01, respectively]. Mean retinal sensitivity within the central 10 degree field improved from 4.8 +/- 2.8 decibels (dB) to 6.5 +/- 3.2 dB at 1 month and to 7.4 +/- 4.4 dB at 6 months [P < .01, respectively]. These improvements were more prominent in eyes with juxtafoveal mCNV than in eyes with subfoveal mCNV. With treatment, the mean number of measurement points within the scotomas decreased significantly; the absolute scotoma was reduced substantially in 15 (68%) eyes at 6 months. Unfortunately, the absolute scotoma was significantly enlarged in 1 eye (5%) at 1 month and in 4 eyes (18%) at 6 months. Also at 6 months, chorioretinal atrophy had developed in the macular area in 4 eyes (18%).

Conclusions: Although intravitreal injection of bevacizumab improved retinal sensitivity in the macular area, some eyes showed enlargement of the scotoma after this treatment.