SHORT-TERM SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB FOR PSEUDOPHAKIC CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA

Purpose: To determine the feasibility, safety, and clinical effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with refractory cystoid macular edema after uncomplicated cataract surgery. Methods: Ten eyes of 10 patients affected by pseudophakic cystoid macular edema refractory to medical treatment treated with at least one intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg of bevacizumab were enrolled in the study. Follow-up visits included Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity testing, optical coherence tomography imaging, and ophthalmoscopic examination. Results: The follow-up was 6 months. All eyes had improved best corrected visual acuity, and no eye had worse visual acuity (>= 2 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study lines). The mean baseline best corrected visual acuity was 20/80 and the mean final best corrected visual acuity 20/32, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). The mean central macular thickness at baseline (546.8 mm; range, 359-720 mm) decreased significantly (228.7 mm; range, 190-280 mm) by the end of follow-up (P < 0.0001). No ocular or systemic adverse events were observed. Conclusions: Short-term results suggest that intravitreal bevacizumab is safe and well tolerated in patients with pseudophakic cystoid macular edema. Treated eyes had a significant improvement in best corrected visual acuity and decrease in macular thickness by optical coherence tomography.