ANATOMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES FOLLOWING INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB (AVASTIN) INJECTION FOR DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA AT PRINCE RASHID BIN AL-HASSAN MILITARY HOSPITAL

Mohammad E. Aleassa*, MD, Yazan M Al Rafaya, MD, Nisreen Aal Essa, MD, Rawan Aal Fogaha, MD, Ebaa Magdady, MD

ABSTRACT

Aim: To assess the anatomical and functional outcomes of intravitreal Bevacizumab injections in patients with Diabetic Macular Edema treated at Prince Rashid Bin Al-Hassan Military Hospital over a one-year period. Methods: This is a retrospective. The medical records of patients diagnosed with center-involving DME at the ophthalmology clinic in Prince Rashid Bin Al-Hassan Military Hospital who received at least three loading doses of intravitreal Bevacizumab between January 2023 and January 2026 will be reviewed. Data regarding patient demographics, baseline characteristics, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and central macular thickness (CMT) using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) will be analyzed before treatment and at one month after completing the three loading doses. Results: 150 patients (200 eyes) with a mean age of 61.4 years were included in this study. Male accounted for (54.7%) of Patients with a mean duration of 14.0 years. The mean baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/80 Snellen, and the mean central macular thickness (CMT) was 415.8 μm. Significant improvement in BCVA was found after completing the loading doses when compared to baseline (p = 0.001). The mean visual improvement after treatment was (+13.4 letters) which was maintained at 6 months (+12.6 letters). 59.5% of eyes achieved improvement of more than 10 ETDRS. At baseline, the mean CMT was 415.8 μm, after giving the loading doses of intravitreal bevacizumab injections, marked and significant improvement in CMT was noted at follow-up visits (p < 0.001) when compared with baseline levels. The greatest mean reduction occurred at month 2 (-148.2 μm), and this improvement was maintained at month 3 (-142.5 μm) as well. Complete anatomical resolution of DME was obtained in 59.0% of eyes at 2 months and 55.5% at 3months. Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab loading doses demonstrated significant functional and anatomical improvement in patients with diabetic macular edema with an excellent safety profile.

Keywords: Bevacizumab, diabetic macular edema.