Abstract

SO.11.01

The effects of the subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab (Avastin®) on corneal neovascularisation

Raid Darawsha, Nina Niederdräing, Henrike Westekemper, Klaus-Peter Steuhl, Daniel Meller
Zentrum für Augenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Deutschland

Objective
To evaluate the efficiency of subconjunctival bevacizumab (Avastin®) injections in patients with corneal neovascularisation due to different etiologies.
Methods
This case series included 47 eyes of 44 patients with corneal neovascularisaton due to different etiologies (high risk penetrating keratoplasty, stem cells transplantation, herpes keratitis and  chemical burn). All patients received a subconjunctival injection of 5 mg (0.2 ml) bevacizumab at about 1.5-2 mm from the corneal limbus. Morphologic changes were investigated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and corneal photography before, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after injection.
Results
Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab reduced acute corneal neovascularization due to different etiologies, chronic corneal neovascularization after herpetic keratitis, and stabilized the corneal neovascularisation after limbal stem cell transplantation. In several cases repeated injections after 4-7 weeks became necessary due to relapse or persistence of corneal neovascularisation: 32% of patients received 2 re-injections and 40% more than 3 re-injections. No serious side effects like infection or inflammation were observed.
Conclusions
Results suggest that subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab (Avastin®) can decrease corneal neovascularization and may offer an additional strategy for the treatment of corneal neovascularisation with different etiologies.

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