Electrophysiological Assessment of Retinal Function During 6 Months of Bevacizumab Treatment in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

In Brief Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the alteration of retinal function by multifocal electroretinography and full-field electroretinography in patients with age-related macular degeneration treated with bevacizumab. Methods: We performed a prospective pilot study of 26 eyes of 26 previously treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration receiving intravitreal injections with 1.25 mg bevacizumab. Patients were examined with multifocal electroretinography, full-field electroretinography, optical coherence tomography, and visual acuity. Follow-up was performed at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: Mean multifocal electroretinography P1 amplitudes were significantly improved at 1 week in the central zone and after 3 and 6 months, improvement was seen in all 6 concentric rings corresponding to ±25° of the central visual field. Full-field electroretinography results indicated a decrease in cone photoreceptor function at 3 months, which was normalized at 6 months compared with baseline. Furthermore, 2 of 3 of the combined rod-cone responses showed signs of decreased retinal function at 6 months. Conclusion: Our results indicate passing signs of an altered retinal cone photoreceptor function assessed by full-field electroretinography. The results do not show any conclusive signs of global retinal toxicity after 6 months. Multifocal electroretinography results show improved photoreceptor function with no sign of focal toxicity in the central retina. The authors' results indicate passing signs of an altered retinal cone photoreceptor function assessed by full-field electroretinography. The results do not show any conclusivesigns of global retinal toxicity after 6 months. Multifocal electroretinography results show improved photoreceptor function with no sign of focal toxicity in the central retina.