Topical Bevacizumab in the Treatment of Corneal Neovascularization

Abstract

Objectives

To study the safety and efficacy of topical bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal neovascularization (NV).

Design

In a prospective, open-label, non-comparative study, 10 eyes from 10 patients with stable corneal NV were treated with topical bevacizumab 1.0% for 3 weeks and followed up to 24 weeks.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary safety variables were the occurrence of ocular and systemic adverse events throughout the course of the study. The primary efficacy variables were neovascular area (NA), measuring the area of the corneal vessels themselves; vessel caliber (VC), measuring the mean diameter of the corneal vessels; and invasion area (IA), measuring the fraction of the total corneal area covered by the vessels.

Results

From baseline visit to the last follow-up visit, the mean reduction was 47.1% ± 36.7% for NA, 54.1% ± 28.1 for VC, and 12.2% ± 42.0% for IA. The decreases in NA and VC were statistically significant (p = 0.0014 and p = 0.00009, respectively). However, changes in IA did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.19). Visual acuity and central corneal thickness showed no significant changes. Topical bevacizumab was well-tolerated with no adverse events.

Conclusions

Short-term topical bevacizumab therapy reduces the severity of corneal NV without local or systemic side-effects.

Application to Clinical Practice

Topical bevacizumab provides an alternative therapy in the treatment of stable corneal neovascularization.