Intravitreal Injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin) in Treatment Patients with Neovascular Glaucoma

Purpose: To evaluate the potential efficacy and safety of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (IVB) (Avastin) in treatment of patients with neovascular glaucoma. Methods: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients with neovascular glaucoma, secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (13 eyes), or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) (2 eyes) were subjected to IVB 2.5 mg in 0.1ml. The effects on iris neovascularization by slit lamp examination and fluorescein angiography (FA), intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity (VA), and other anterior and posterior segment effects were recorded. Results: All eyes showed regression of iris neovascularization, as early as 4 days after IVB. Recurrent neovascularization occurred in 5 eyes (20%), 2.5 months after injection. One week after IVB, IOP lowering ( 20mmHg) was recorded in 13 eyes (86.7%), this effect was maintained in 12 eyes (80%) at the end of follow-up period. Most eyes (80%) had the same BCVA after IVB as that before. No recorded significant complications followed IVB. Conclusion: IVB has a good effect in IOP lowering, and iris neovascularization regression in patients having neovascular glaucoma, with no significant side effects.