RPE-rip after intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment for vascularised PED secondary to AMD

Background Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE)-rips in age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-associated pigment epithelial detachment (PED) occur in the natural course of the disease but also after therapy (e.g. laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy), possibly triggered by the specific therapy. We report here on four patients that received intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) for AMD-associated vascularised PED and developed RPE-rips during the follow-up. Methods The case reports of four consecutive patients that developed RPE-rips after intravitreal injection of bevacizumab at 1 mg/0.1 ml were reviewed. Results The RPE-rips occurred in all patients between 1 week and 1 month following intravitreal injection. Two of the four patients improved in vision despite the rip, but 3 months after the initial intervention, three patients suffered deterioration in visual acuity and had to be re-injected. Conclusion Improvement in visual acuity may occur following intravitreal bevacizumab despite RPE-rips, but the patients need close follow-up and eventual re-treatment in the case of deterioration.