Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin) for post-vitrectomy diabetic vitreous hemorrhage

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in treating vitreous haemorrhage after diabetic vitrectomy. methodology: this interventional study was conducted at al-ibrahim eye hospital, karachi, between july 2008 and sept’2009. selected patients having vitreous hemorrhage, after diabetic vitrectomy, were given intravitreal bevacizumab 1.25mg.main outcome measures were vitreous clear-up time and change in vitreous hemorrrhage scale at baseline and at four weeks and three months after injection. results: after intravitreal bevacizumab in 16 eyes, vitreous hemorrrhage cleared in 13(81%) eyes within four weeks. mean vitreous clear-up time was 2.9 weeks. at baseline, mean vitreous hemorrrhage scale was 2.5+0.52; this improved to 0.81+1.0(p=<0.001) and 0.53+0.45(p=<0.001) at four weeks and three months, respectively. at the end of three months, 10(71%) of 13 eyes maintained vitreous hemorrrhage-free condition while 3(23%) developed recurrent vitreous hemorrrhage. conclusion: intravitreal bevacizumab is quite effective in clearing post-operative vitreous haemorrhage after diabetic vitrectomy.