TIME COURSE OF CHANGES IN OPTIC DISK NEOVASCULARIZATION AFTER A SINGLE INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB INJECTION

Purpose: To evaluate the longitudinal changes in optic disk neovascularization (NVD) after intravitreal bevacizumab injection using optical coherence tomography angiography. Methods: In this prospective, interventional, case series, eyes with NVD secondary to diabetic retinopathy were enrolled. En face optical coherence tomography angiographic images were obtained from the optic disks before and 3 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. The size and flow area of the neovascularization were measured by two graders. Results: Eleven eyes of 9 patients with a mean age of 52.11 +/- 9.48 years were included. The reduction in the NVD size and flow area was statistically significant at 24 hours, 7 days, and 30 days after injections compared with the baseline measurements (all P < 0.05). The decremental regression in the NVD size and flow area continued during the study course. The changes were not statistically significant in 3-hour and 6-hour measurements (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, statistically significant regression in the NVD size and flow area was observed as early as 24 hours after a single intravitreal bevacizumab injection, with a continued decreasing trend for at least a 1-month period.