Topical ranibizumab as a treatment of corneal neovascularization.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of topical ranibizumab on clinically stable corneal neovascularization (NV).

METHODS

This was a prospective, open-label, monocentric, uncontrolled noncomparative study. Ten eyes of 9 patients with corneal NV received topical ranibizumab (1%) 4 times a day for 3 weeks with a follow-up period of 16 weeks. The main corneal NV outcome measures were: neovascular area, the area occupied by the corneal neovessels; vessel caliber (VC), the mean diameter of the corneal neovessels; and invasion area (IA), the fraction of the total cornea area covered by the vessels. This study was conducted at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA.

RESULTS

Statistically significant decreases in neovascular area (55.3%, P < 0.001), which lasted through 16 weeks, and VC (59%, P < 0.001), which continued to improve up to week 16, were observed after treatment. No significant decrease was observed in IA (12.3%, P = 0.49). There was no statistically significant change in visual acuity or intraocular pressure. No adverse events ascribed to the treatment were noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical application of ranibizumab is effective in reducing the severity of corneal NV in the context of established corneal NV, mostly through decrease in VC rather than IA.