Intravitreal Bevacizumab Treatment in Type 2 Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab treatment in type 2 idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six eyes of 5 patients with type 2 IMT who received intravitreal bevacizumab between 2009 and 2014 were included in this study. All the patients had an ophthalmological examination including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), dilated fundus examination, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography. Intravitreal bevacizumab injection was planned for patients who had macular edema and/or decreased visual acuity at baseline. Patients were examined 1 week and 1 month after the intravitreal injection. Intravitreal injection was repeated in patients whose visual acuity decreased and/or whose macular edema persisted or increased. Changes in BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT) and central macular volume from baseline at 1 month after the first injection and at final examination were evaluated. RESULTS: Average age of the patients (4 female and 1 male) was 62±11.8 years. Average follow-up period was 26±11 months. Patients received an average of 2.3 (range 1-4) injections during follow-up. Average Snellen BCVA of the patients was 0.48±0.29. BCVA increased at final examination compared to baseline in all of the patients. The difference between baseline and final visual acuities was significant (p<0.05). The patients’ average CMT was 328±139 µm at baseline and decreased by a mean of 85±153 µm at 1 month after the first injection and 65±142 µm at final examination, but the changes were not significant. CMT decreased at final examination compared to baseline in four patients and increased in both eyes of one patient. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab injection is a preferable treatment method in regard to both visual acuity and OCT findings.