Retinal Pigment Epithelium Tear Following Intravitreal Bevacizumab Treatment for Choroidal Neovascular Membrane without Previous Pigment Epithelium Detachment: (Case Report)

Background Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) tears are well recognized complications of pigment epithelial detachments (PED) in age related macular degeneration (AMD) and may arise spontaneously after trauma, photocoagulation, or photodynamic therapy (PDT).1 Many studies reported favorable results after intravitreal (IV) bevacizumab (Avastin) injection in neovascular AMD.2 We present one patient, who developed an RPE tear after intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) injection, without any pre-existing PED. Aim To present one 76 year-old patient suffering from choroidal neovascularization (CNV) due to age related macular degeneration without pre-existing PED, who underwent a series of bevacizumab injections. After the second injection he developed a RPE tear which resulted in decrease vision. Discussion and conclusion Many authors have demonstrated the possible higher incidence of RPE tears after intravitreal treatment with anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) drugs for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with pigment epithelium detachment (PED) 3, 4. In this case RPE tear occurred in an exudative AMD eye without pre-existing PED. Continuing the anti-VEGF therapy resulted in improved and stabilized visual acuity for the next 6 months of follow up.