THE EFFECT OF TOPICAL BEVACIZUMAB ON CORNEAL NEOVASULARIZATION IN A RABBIT MODEL

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of topical bevacizumab for treatment of the corneal neovascularization (CNV) in a rabbit model of corneal injury. Methods: Corneal neovascularization was induced by 3 sutures of the cornea in 20 rabbits (20 corneas). Two weeks later all sutures have been removed then rabbits were divided randomly into 2 groups: group 1 received topical bevacizumab at 10 mg/mL and group 2 received only topical normal salin drops as control group, in the right eyes three times a day for two weeks. Photographs of (CNV) were obtained before drug administration and at 1 and 2 weeks after therapy. The images were analyzed using NIH Image J 1.49c software. Results: The mean percentage of CNV area estimated as 100 % before treatment. At the 1 week after treatment, the mean percentage of neovascularization area in Bevacizumab and Salin group were 75.64±4.32 and 93.33±4.57 respectively. Also at the 2 week after treatment were 61.45±6.18 and 84.96±5.21 respectively. After one and two weeks treatment, the neovascularization area in Bevacizumab group was regressed more than salin group significantly ( P<0.0001). Conclusions: Topical administration of Bevacizumab reduces corneal neovascularization in the short term,so it can be used for treatment of corneal neovascularization. Key words: Corneal Neovascularization, Bevacizumab, Topical.