MACULAR CHOROIDAL VOLUME CHANGES AFTER INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB FOR EXUDATIVE AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab on the macular choroidal volume and the subfoveal choroidal thickness in treatment naive eyes with exudative age-related macular degeneration. Methods: The macular choroidal volume and the subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography. After a screening examination, each patient received 3 monthly intravitreal injections of 1.25 mg bevacizumab. One month after the third injection was a final assessment. Results: Forty-seven patients with a mean age of 80 +/- 6.4 years were included. The macular choroidal volume decreased significantly from median 4.1 mm(3) (interquartile range 3.4-5.9) to median 3.9 mm(3) (interquartile range 3.1-5.6) between the baseline and final examination (difference -0.46 mm(3), 95% confidence interval: -0.57 to 0.35, P < 0.001). Similarly, subfoveal choroidal thickness had decreased from 157.0 mu m (interquartile range 116.0-244.5) at baseline to 139.0 mu m (interquartile range 102.5-212.0) at the final examination (P < 0.001). Both parameters macular choroidal volume at baseline and subfoveal choroidal thickness at baseline were not associated with the response to treatment. Conclusion: The macular choroidal volume and the subfoveal choroidal thickness decreased significantly after 3 monthly bevacizumab injections for exudative age-related macular degeneration.