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This abstract is assigned to session OB Free papers 3 - Medical retina

Title

Intravitreal bevacizumab for myopic choroidal neovascularization: 1-year and 2-year results

Purpose	To report safety and efficacy results after 1 and 2 years of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB) for active choroidal neovascularization associated with pathological myopia (mCNV).
Methods	For this retrospective interventional case series of 29 eyes, charts were reviewed of all patients who received IVB for active mCNV and who had a follow-up of at least 12 months after the first injection. Injections were repeated as needed, based on a decrease in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), an increase in central macular thickness (CMT) of > 100 µm on optical coherence tomography (OCT), the recurrence of macular edema on OCT and/or leakage on fluorescein angiography. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on length of follow-up: patients in Group 1 had a follow-up of ≥12 months, in Group 2 of ≥18 months and in Group 3 of ≥24 months. Changes in visual acuity and CMT were analyzed, as were safety considerations.
Results	Twenty nine patients with a mean age of 62.2 years were included and 83 injections were administered. No ocular or systemic side effects were noted. Mean BCVA at baseline for all patients (n=29) was 20/100, at three months 20/80+ and at one year 20/63. At 18 months, Group 2 and 3 (n=19) had a mean BCVA of 20/80+. At 2 years, Group 3 (n=8) had a mean BCVA of 20/63. The BCVA had improved significantly at 3 months (p=0.0035) and one year (p=0.0042). Although BCVA gains were maintained at 18 and 24 months, these were not statistically significant (p=0.11 and p=0.19, respectively). The mean CMT decreased significantly at one year.
Conclusion	This study confirms that administration of intravitreal bevacizumab is a safe and effective treatment modality for mCNV. Statistically significant visual improvement can be obtained.

Author 1

Last name	COPPENS
Initials	G
City	Leuven

Author 2

Last name	Spielberg
Initials	L
City	Leuven

Author 3

Last name	Leys
Initials	A
City	Leuven