Role of bevacizumab intraocular injection in the management of neovascular glaucoma

AIM:To assess the long-term effects of intraocular bevacizumab(Avastin)injections as an adjunctive drug to manage patients with neovascular glaucoma(NVG).METHODS:A retrospective study was conducted consisting of 34 eyes with secondary NVG caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy(n=25),ischemic central retinal vein occlusion(n=8),and retinal ischemia resulting from persistent detachment(n=1)were managed by intraocular injections of bevacizumab(1.25 mg/0.05 m L),in addition to other treatments.The main outcome measure was the change in the degree of iris neovascularization.Secondary outcomes included intraocular pressure and the number of additional interventions or antiglaucoma medications administered after injection.RESULTS:All patients were followed-up for at least 12 mo.At the last follow-up,complete regression of rubeosis irides was detectable in 13(38.2%)eyes and incomplete regression in 21 eyes(61.8%).The mean intraocular pressure was 45.32±7.185 mm Hg at baseline and significantly decreased to 26.15±5.679 mm Hg at the last follow-up visit(P=0.000005).Patients received an average of 4.97 injections.As additional treatments,12 eyes(35%)received laser photocoagulation and 6 eyes(18%)underwent retinocryopexy.No further treatment was needed in 16 eyes(47.1%).CONCLUSION:Intravitreal bevacizumab injection can have a favorable effect in controlling intraocular pressure and pain control in patients with NVG because it decreases the angiogenesis and helps to augment the results of conventional procedures.The primary cause of retinal ischemia should be always targeted.

Long term efficacy and stability of corneal collagen cross linking for post-LASIK ectasia: an average of 80mo follow-up

This study was designed to evaluate efficacy and stability of corneal collagen crosslinking(CXL) in halting the progression of post-laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) ectasia and provide long-term follow-up results with an average of 80 mo. Patients with post-LASIK ectasia were treated with CXL between December 2007 and January 2012. Main outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuities(UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuities(CDVA), minimum and maximum keratometry(K) values, spherical and cylindrical refraction, and corneal thickness. The study evaluated 17 eyes for 13 patients(8 men, 5 women) with mean age of 31y(range 23 to 39) and mean follow-up of 80.7±15(range 57 to 102)mo. UDVA and CDVA improved from logMAR 0.53±0.36(20/63) to 0.49±0.4(20/50)(P=0.43) and from 0.18±0.17(20/28) to 0.16±0.16(20/27)(P=0.55) respectively. In 15 eyes UDVA and in 13 eyes CDVA either remained stable or improved ≥1 Snellen lines(88.2%) and(76.5%) respectively. Although statistically insignificant, spherical and cylindrical refraction decreased post-CXL from-1.26±2.87 to-0.38±2.32 diopters(D)(P=0.054) and from-3.80±2.47 to-3.04±2.18 D(P=0.13) respectively. Kmax significantly decreased from 44.23±3.76 to 42.85±3.08 D(P=0.013) and Kmin decreased from 41.07±3.61 to 40.00±2.65 D(P=0.057). Corneal thickness decreased from 470±42 to 460±41 μm, but was statistically non-significant(P=0.063). Therefore, CXL is effective in halting and partially reversing the progression of postLASIK ectasia on the long-term(mean follow-up of more than 80mo), thus highlighting the stability and maintained effect of CXL for such cases.