Purpose: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab injection for treating type 1 idiopathic macular telangiectasia (IMT).
Methods: Retrospective case series of five eyes of five male patients with type 1 IMT that were treated with 2-3 injections of intravitreal bevacizumab. Best-corrected visual acuity, foveal thickness obtained by optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography (FA) were monitored over a period of up to 12 months.
Results: The average follow-up period was 17.0 months (range, 12-21 months). The mean logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution visual acuity was 0.295 at baseline and 0.254 (P=0.194) and 0.311 (P=0.461) at 3 and 12 months, respectively, after the initial injection. At 12 months, visual acuity had improved in one eye, remained stable in three eyes, and decreased in one eye. The mean foveal thickness was 479 microm at baseline; at 1 month after the therapy, marked reduction of macular oedema was seen only in one eye. The mean foveal thickness was 418 microm (P=0.287) and 473 microm (P=0.482) at 3 and 12 months after the initial injection, respectively. At 12 months, the foveal thickness had decreased by >100 microm in one eye, but had increased by >100 microm in two eyes. FA did not show a reduction in late leakage.
Conclusions: Treatment with intravitreal bevacizumab does not appear to improve visual acuity or retinal oedema in type 1 IMT.