Visual improvement following intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in exudative age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To study the visual and anatomic outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in the treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Retrospective review of patients who received one or more intravitreal bevacizumab injections for exudative AMD. Outcome measures include standardized visual acuity, optical coherence tomography (OCT), macular thickness and volume, intraocular pressure, and blood pressure at 24 or more weeks follow-up. RESULTS: Fifty eyes of 48 patients were identified. Patients were observed for a median length of follow-up of 34 weeks (range, 24-50 weeks). Thirty-six eyes (72%) had prior treatment with pegaptanib (Macugen) and/or photodynamic therapy (PDT) and 14 eyes (28%) were treatment-naive. Mean visual acuity increased by 6.5 letters (P < 0.01) at 4 weeks and 5.3 letters (P < 0.01) at 24 weeks after initial bevacizumab injection. At 24 weeks, naive eyes had a mean increase of 14.2 letters (P < 0.001) and previously treated eyes had a mean increase of 2.8 letters (P = 0.06). Overall, mean OCT macular thickness and volume decreased by 73 micro m (P < 0.001) and 1.0 mm3 (P < 0.001) respectively at last follow-up. At last follow-up, all eyes received an average of 3.5 injections and experienced an average of 1.08 recurrences. There was no incidence of severe vision loss or adverse effect. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab has the potential for improvement in vision in both naive and previously treated eyes for at least 6 months. The benefit is more pronounced in eyes without prior pegaptanib and/or PDT.

Retinal tears and retinal detachment as factors affecting visual outcome after cataract extraction complicated by posteriorly dislocated lens material.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and effect on visual acuity of complicating factors such as retinal tears (RTs) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) in eyes with posteriorly dislocated lens fragments after cataract extraction. METHODS: Retrospective consecutive series of patients presenting at a referral vitreoretinal practice with posteriorly dislocated lens material after cataract extraction over a period of 8 years. The presence of RT, RRD, endophthalmitis, and choroidal hemorrhage was noted, and their effect on visual outcome was studied. RESULTS: A total of 307 eyes with posteriorly dislocated lens material after cataract extraction were identified. Fifty-eight eyes (19%) were managed medically (Group I), whereas the other 249 eyes (81%) underwent pars plana vitrectomy for removal of the lens material (Group II). Indications for surgical management included uncontrolled inflammation, elevated intraocular pressure, and large lens fragments. No eyes in Group I developed RT or RRD. Of the 249 Group II eyes, 13 (5%) were found to have RT, and 25 (10%) developed RRD. In Group II, choroidal hemorrhage and endophthalmitis were noted in 12 (5%) and 4 (2%) eyes, respectively. Fifty-one (88%) of 58 eyes in Group I and 138 (55%) of 249 eyes in Group II achieved a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Seven (54%) of the 13 eyes with RT and 9 (36%) of the 25 eyes with RRD achieved a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better. In the RRD group, 9 (56%) of the 16 macula-on eyes achieved a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better, whereas none of the 9 macula-off eyes had a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better. None of the 4 eyes with endophthalmitis and only 1 (8%) of the 12 eyes with choroidal hemorrhage had a final visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Five (62%) of eight eyes with retinal detachment treated with pneumatic retinopexy needed further treatment with scleral buckle to achieve anatomical reattachment. CONCLUSION: A good visual outcome (20/40 or better) is possible in eyes with posteriorly dislocated lens fragments after cataract extraction, even when retinal tears or macula-on retinal detachment is present. The presence of a macula-off retinal detachment, however, has a significant adverse effect on the visual outcome. Pneumatic retinopexy is not associated with retinal reattachment in many cases and is not preferred.