Posters

Treatments for corneal neovascularization: subconjunctival injections of Bevacizumab and/or photodynamic therapy

Poster Details

First Author: L. Hoffart FRANCE

Co Author(s):    J. Hamdan                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate and compare the efficacy of subconjunctival Bevacizumab injections, photodynamic therapy and combined treatments in secondary corneal neovascularization.

Setting:

Service d'ophtalmologie, Hôpital la Timone, Marseille, France.

Methods:

Prospective, randomized and comparative study on seven eyes with corneal neovascularization caused by ocular surface disorders. Patients were randomized in three groups: patients included in group A received a single subconjunctival injection of 10 mg (0.4 mL) of Bevacizumab, patients in group B were treated with photodynamic therapy with Verteporfin (6 mg/m2) and those in group C received a subconjunctival injection of Bevacizumab and photodynamic therapy 7 days later. Morphological changes in neovascularisation were evaluated during 6 months using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and corneal digital photography. A computer-assisted semi-automatic analysis of corneal neovascularization area was performed with image J software.

Results:

Recession of corneal vessels was observed in all eyes at 1 month post-treatment. The decrease of the neovascularization tree was more important during the first month. The surface of corneal neovascularization decreased of 34,05 +/- 8,28% in group A (subconjunctival injection of Bevacizumab), of 42,06 +/- 28,36% in group B (photodynamic therapy with Verteporfin) and of 51,67 +/- 18,93% in group C (combined subconjunctival injection of Bevacizumab and photodynamic therapy). A combined treatment might be more effective for the treatment of corneal neovascularization. No local or systemic adverse effects possibly related to subconjunctival injections or photodynamic therapy ware observed.

Conclusions:

Our results suggest that combined subconjunctival injection of Bevacizumab and photodynamic therapy with Verteporfin might be used safely and effectively to reduce corneal neovascularization surface. This combined therapy could improve success of corneal grafts. Controlled prospective randomized trials are necessary to assess long-term efficacy and to confirm this results.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE