[Our two-year experience with the bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment of the age related macular degeneration wet form].

Aim: To evaluate the results of the intravitreal Avastin injection treatment in patients with the wet form of the age related macular degeneration and to point out some problems of this treatment.

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 71 eyes of 71 patients; the follow up period was 6-24 months, on average, 18.5 months. The first subgroup consisted of 31 eyes treated in the first year, the second subgroup 40 eyes treated in the second year of the study. At the beginning of the treatment, the visual acuity in the first subgroup was 0.05-0.8, on average 0.26, in the second subgroup 0.1-0.6, on average 0.3. Most frequently, the occult form of the subretinal neovascular membrane was diagnosed (60.6%).

Results: There were applied 1-6 injections, on average, 3.52 injections. The frequency of applications was set according to the PRONTO study schedule for Lucentis application. The neuroepithelium thickness decreased by more than 100 microm in 35.2% of eyes, was stabilized in 46.5% of eyes, and increased by more than 100 microm in 11.3% of eyes. In the first subgroup, the visual acuity stabilized in 90.3% of eyes, in the second one in 95%, and in the whole group in 93% of eyes. Improvement by more than 15 letters of the ETDRS chart was recorded in the whole group in 8 eyes (11.3%) and, on the other hand, the worsening by more than 15 letters in 5 eyes (7%). We recorded no systemic complications; in no eye we had to treat the endophthalmitis, nor the retinal detachment.

Conclusions: Several times lower price, safety, and positive results of intravitreal Avastin injection treatment support its use in the competition with other anti-VEGF substances.