Outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization in the Chinese population.

Objective: To assess the long-term visual and anatomical outcomes and safety of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (ICNV) in Chinese patients.

Methods: Retrospective interventional case series. Methods: Seventy-seven eyes of 77 patients with ICNV. Methods: Patients were given intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) for ICNV between March 2006 and May 2008. Main outcome measures were changes in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness, which was measured by optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography findings.

Results: Mean follow-up was 14.3 (SD 2.4, range 10-20) months. Mean BCVA improved from 0.66 (SD 0.36) logMAR at baseline to 0.25 (SD 0.28) logMAR at final follow-up (p < 0.001). Sixty-one patients (79%) gained BCVA of > or = 2 Snellen lines, and 1 eye (1%) lost BCVA of > or = 2 Snellen lines. Mean central foveal thickness decreased from 365 (SD 124) microm at baseline to 211 (SD 94) microm at final visit (p < 0.001). Sixty-two eyes (81%) needed reinjection. Both BCVA improvement and the change in central foveal thickness between the 1- time injection group and the multi-injections group were not statistically significant (p = 0.45 and p = 0.19, respectively). No significant ocular or systemic adverse effects were observed.

Conclusions: The long-term results suggest an encouraging efficacy and safety of intravitreal bevacizumab for ICNV in Chinese patients.