Efficacy of Sub-Conjunctival Bevacizumab in High Risk Corneal Transplantations

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of sub-conjunctival and topical Bevacizumab in high risk corneal transplant survival.

Material and Methods: Eyes with high risk corneal transplantation with corneal neovascularization (NV) were included in this randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups. Group A and Group B. After penetrating keratoplasty, group A patients received sub-conjunctival bevacizumab (2.5 mg/ 0.1 ml), group B, patients received sham injection. Corneal neovascular invasion area i.e. the fraction of area on transplanted cornea in which vessels are present is measured using mathematical software program MatLab. Primary measurement variable was neovascular invasion area while secondary measurement variable was visual acuity.

Results: Among the 2 groups mean corneal neovascular invasion area was minimum in the sub-conjunctival bevacizumab injection group (group A), with p value < 0.05.

Conclusion: Sub-conjunctival bevacizumab can offer an adjunctive measure to traditional treatment methods of prevention of vascularization on grafted cornea.