Effects of Intravitreally Injected Bevacizumab on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Fellow Eyes

Abstract Purpose: Whether an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in 1 eye will have any effect on the fellow eye has been discussed. The aim of this study was to determine the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the fellow eyes after an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab in 1 eye with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Eight patients who had similar findings of proliferative diabetic retinopathy in both eyes were studied. Four patients had rubeosis (rubeosis group), and 4 patients did not have rubeosis (no-rubeosis group) in the anterior chamber. All patients received an intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1.25 mg) in 1 eye. Samples of aqueous humor were collected from the injected eyes just before the injection of bevacizumab and 1 day after the first injection just before vitrectomy. Samples of aqueous humor from the fellow eyes were collected just before a second injection of bevacizumab in the fellow eye at 7 days after the first injection. The concentration of VEGF...