Intravitreal bevacizumab as rescue therapy following treatment failure with laser photocoagulation in retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) in case of treatment failure with laser photocoagulation in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: A retrospective review of infants treated with IVB injection due to treatment failure with laser photocoagulation was performed. The anatomical results and complications were evaluated after treatment.

Results: 9 eyes of 6 premature infants with a mean gestational age of 26.8 ± 3.0 weeks (range, 23-32 w) and mean birth weight of 958 ± 319 g (range, 600-1400 g) were identified. Six of the eyes had zone 1 disease, and all of these eyes were classified as aggressive posterior ROP (APROP). Three of the eyes had zone 2 disease, and one of these eyes was classified as APROP, and the other two eyes were classified as high-risk pre-threshold disease. All of the eyes showed regression of the disease except one patient, both eyes of whom progressed to stage 4A. None of the patients developed ocular and systemic complications at the end of the six-month follow-up period.

Conclusion: IVB could be an option in patients with ROP in whom laser photocoagulation failed.