INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB FOR THE TREATMENT OF CHOROIDAL HEMANGIOMAS.

PURPOSE: To investigate the use of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of subretinal fluid (SRF) and intraretinal fluid associated with circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of all patients treated with at least three bevacizumab injections for circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas-associated SRF between May 2020 and August 2023 in Moorfields eye hospital. Outcome measures included change in best-corrected visual acuity, change in patient-reported symptoms, change in SRF, and change in central subfield thickness. Data on further management after cessation of injections were analyzed.

RESULTS

The study included nine patients. Median best-corrected visual acuity was 6/19 before and 6/24 after injections ( P = 0.41). Central subfield thickness decreased from a median of 466 to 447 µ m ( P = 0.11). Two thirds of (n = 6) patients did not show any reduction in foveal SRF, one third (n = 3) showed a partial reduction, and no patients had a complete resolution of SRF. Eight patients received rescue-photodynamic therapy, and one received external beam radiotherapy. Best-corrected visual acuity changed from a median of 6/60 to a median of 6/12 after rescue treatment ( P = 0.63). The median central subfield thickness decreased significantly from 470 µ m to 249 µ m ( P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Intravitreal bevacizumab is unlikely to be an effective treatment for exudative circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas.