Short-term effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin®) on retrobulbar hemodynamics in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term effects of intravitreal bevacizumab on retrobulbar hemodynamics in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: This study was carried out at Ataturk Training and Research Hospital 1st Ophthalmology Clinic, Ankara. Fourteen patients with neovascular AMD, who were treated with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab, were included in this study. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and resistivity index (RI) were measured with colour Doppler imaging (CDI) in the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery (CRA) and posterior ciliary artery. Results: The mean age of the 14 patients was 78 +/- 9 (64-87). Of the 14 patients, eight were men and six were women. Colour Doppler imaging measurements of EDV (p = 0.015) and RI (p = 0.009) parameters of CRA revealed statistically significant difference among all three periods. End-diastolic velocity values decreased at the end of the 1st week and returned close to preoperative values at the end of the 1st month after the procedure. Also, EDV of posterior ciliary artery (PCA) decreased at the end of the 1st week and returned close to preoperative values at the end of the 1st month after the procedure. Resistivity index of PCA showed a temporary increase at the end of the 1st week and returned close to preoperative values at the end of the 1st month after the procedure. Conclusion: Injection of bevacizumab decreased blood velocities of CRA and PCA and increased RI of CRA and PCA in the early postoperative period and returned to preoperative values at the end of the first month.