Background:Pathologicalmyopiais observed in about 2% of the general population. Submacularchoroidal neovascularization is a leadingcause of severe visual loss and blindness in eyes with pathological myopia, affecting 4-11% of those eyes.Our aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safetyof intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of neovascular myopic maculopathy (NMM).
Patients and methods:22 non-previously treated eyes of 22 consecutivepatients with NMM were treated with monthlyintravitreal injections of bevacizumabandfollowed up for 12 months. Changes in BCVA and central macular thickness wereevaluated at 12 months of follow-up.
Results:Mean age was54.45±12.30(r= 28.00 ? 79.00);7 patients (31.8%) were male and 15 (68.2%)female.Mean spherical equivalent refractive error was-10.89±4.13 (r= -7.00 to -21,00)Mean time elapsed between initial symptoms andthebeginning of treatment was 38.68±34.63days.Patients received a mean of 4.27±1.86 (r=2.00to 9.00) injections. Most injections were performed during the first 6 monthsof treatment (mean 3.36±1.22 months; r=1.00 to 6.00). Median BCVAat baseline was1.00 (P25-75=0.40-1.00) and at 12 months0.45(P25-75=0.30-0.70) (p<0.0001). Significant visual improvement was observed between the first(median=1.00,IQR= 0.6) and the third month of treatment(median=0.60,IQR=0.6)(p=0.0002), with no further significant improvement (p=0.09).No ocular or systemic sideeffects attributable to treatment were observed.