Long-Term Outcome and Recurrence of Idiopathic Choroidal Neovascularization Treated with Intravitreal Bevacizumab.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab treatment for idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and to investigative the influence of CNV recurrence on visual prognosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included 26 patients (26 eyes) who had been diagnosed with idiopathic CNV and followed up for at least 2 years. All the eyes included had been treated with intravitreal bevacizumab. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at diagnosis was compared with that at final follow-up. The final BCVA of patients who experienced CNV recurrence was compared with that of patients who did not.

Results: The mean follow-up period after diagnosis was 33.9 ± 10.6 months. During this period, a mean of 2.5 ± 1.7 bevacizumab injections were administered. The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVAs at diagnosis, 6 months, 12 months, and final follow-up was 0.48 ± 0.38, 0.28 ± 0.36, 0.25 ± 0.35, and 0.20 ± 0.26, respectively. The final BCVA was significantly improved over the baseline value. CNV recurred in 8 patients (30.8%), 3 of whom experienced 2 recurrences; the mean timing of recurrence was 19.7 ± 15.5 months after diagnosis. The final BCVA in patients who experienced recurrence (mean 0.21 ± 0.19 logMAR) did not differ from that in patients who did not (mean 0.19 ± 0.29 logMAR).

Conclusions: The long-term outcome of intravitreal bevacizumab treatment for idiopathic CNV was generally favorable. Although CNV recurrence was noted in 30.8% of patients, the recurrence may not significantly influence long-term visual prognosis.