Background: The effect of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors triamcinolone and bevacizumab (Avastin) on serous pigment epithelial detachment (PED) related to age-dependent macular degeneration (AMD) was analysed retrospectively.
Patients and methods: Data of 45 patients (45 eyes) were evaluated: 11 patients received an intravitreal injection with triamcinolone and 16 with bevacizumab. The remaining 18 patients received no therapy. Visual acuity (VA), height of the PED, retinal thickness and the cystoid component of the PED were compared after 6 months follow-up.
Results: Over 90% showed a stabilisation or improvement in VA after bevacizumab therapy; 63% of those who received triamcinolone showed VA stabilisation. Patients who received no therapy had a significant decrease in VA.
Conclusions: Our data seem to implicate that VA outcome is much better after bevacizumab treatment. VA outcome seems to correlate with the cystoid component of the foveal oedema rather than with the height of PED. A greater number of patients with a longer period of follow-up are necessary to confirm these results.