Intravitreal bevacizumab versus ranibizumab: Effects on the vessels of the fellow non-treated eye

Purpose: to evaluate the effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-vegf) on the vessels of the non-treated eyes followingintravitreal injections. methods: in this prospective, non-randomized trial, a total of 38 patients were recruited. 21 patients received ranibizumab, and 17 patients received bevacizumab. fundus photography was carried out at baseline immediately before injection and at 3 days, 7 days, and one month after the injections. using image analysis software, measurements were summarized as the central retinal artery equivalent (crae) and central retinal vein equivalent.results: in non-treated eyes, crae decreased significantly from 153.23 ± 15.20 mm before injection to 148.77 ± 17.21 mm 3 days after intravitreal bevacizumab (p ¼ 0.004). there was no significant difference in crae, between the pre injection baseline, one week, and one month after intravitreal bevacizumab injection in non-treated eyes (p > 0.05). no significant difference was noted in crae in the non-treated eyes of the ranibizumab group at any post-injection visit (p ¼ 0.1). conclusion: a significant transient narrowing effect of bevacizumab on retinal arterioles in thefellow non-treated eyes on the third day after intravitreal injection may show that plasma concentrations of these drugs are sufficient to spread the effect to the other eye.