Anti-VEGF bevacizumab (Avastin®) for radiation optic neuropathy

PURPOSE. To evaluate intravitreal bevacizumab treatment for radiation optic neuropathy (RON). DESIGN: Interventional case report. METHODS: At The New York Eye Cancer Center, a patient symptomatic of decreased vision because of RON was treated with intravitreal bevacizumab (1.25 mg). Main outcome measures included visual acuity, appearance of the optic nerve, fundus photography, angiography, and optical coherence tomography/scanning laser oplithalmoscopy (OCT/SLO). RESULTS: Within one week, her vision improved from 20/32 to 20/20 with a reduction in optic disk hemorrhage. At six weeks, evidence of both decreased hemorrhage and optic disk edema was documented by photography, angiography, and OCT/SLO. At the three and five-month follow,up visits, the hemorrhages re, solved, and her disk margins were sharp. There were no ocular or systemic side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreal bevacizumab was tolerated, improved vision, and reduced hemorrhage as well as optic disk edema (angiographic leakage). Anti-VEGF therapy (e.g. bevacizumab) should be investigated for both ocular and nonocular radiation neuropathy.