Effectiveness of intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.

Methods: This case series was conducted at Department of Ophthalmology, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi. The duration of study was six months from May 26, 2011 to November 25, 2011. The study group comprised of 54 patients of the Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). Intravitreal injection of 1.25 mg of bevacizumab (Avastin) was injected 3.5 mm from the limbus under topical anaesthetic drops. Post procedure follow up was scheduled on 1st post procedure day and after one month. Post procedure Optical Coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in all patients 1 week before and 1st month after 1st injection. The results were statistically analyzed through SPSS 17.

Results: Out of the 54 Eyes of 54 Patients who were given the Intravitreal injection of Avastin (Bevacizumab), 43 Eyes (79.6%) showed more than ten percent decrease in macular thickness from pre-injection thickness, 10 Eyes (18.5%) showed less than ten percent decrease and 1 Eye (1.9%) showed increase in macular thickness post operatively after one month.

Conclusions: Intravitreal injection of Bevacizumab (Avastin) is effective in the treatment of diabetic macular edema.