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Anti-VEGF injection decreases corneal vascularization, study shows
CHICAGO — Injecting bevacizumab into the conjunctiva showed promise for treating vascularization in corneal diseases, according to a speaker here.
"The data supporting a role for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in corneal neovascularization are extensive," Sherief Hosny Ahmed MD,FRCS, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.
Dr. Ahmed reported on his small study in which 11 patients with corneal vascularization were given subconjuctival injections of 2.5 mg of Avastin (bevacizumab, Genentech) in 1 ml of saline solution at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock subconjuctival position. That same dose was then repeated 1 month later. Through photos, researchers documented the results every month for six months.
The study showed that 63%, or seven of the patients, showed a more than than 90% decrease in total vascularization and 18% showed a moderate drop. The other 18% did not show a significant drop, Dr. Ahmed said.
He said he plans to continue follow-up of these patients and would like to test topical bevacizumab as a possible maintenance therapy.
Currently, clinicians administer anti-VEGF intravitreally as an off-label treatment for some other ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration.