AIM  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab in patients with idiopathic choroidal neovascularization (ICNV).
METHODS  The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 2.5mg bevacizumab for ICNV were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein and/or indocyanine green angiography. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. Changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT) over at least 6 months were the main outcome measures.
RESULTS  Forty eyes of 40 patients (19 males and 21 females) with the average of 33±6.8 years were included. The mean baseline of BCVA and CFT were 0.66±0.35 (logMAR) and 275.39±107.59μm, respectively. One month after injection, the mean BCVA (logMAR 0.30±0.29, P =0.000) and CFT (185.39±45.77, P =0.000) were significantly improved. At the last visit of 9.2 months follow up, both BCVA (logMAR 0.31±0.38, P =0.000) and CFT (192.38±55.52, P =0.000) showed significant improvements over baseline values. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 27 eyes (67.5%), remained stable in 8 eyes（20%）at the last visit. A total of 52 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1.30 in the group. About 63.6% of re-injections gained at least two lines of vision improvement one month following the re-treatment. No serious ocular or systemic adverse events were observed.
CONCLUSION  Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab for ICNV was well tolerated with an improvement in BCVA, CFT over the mean 9.2 months follow-up period. Re-injection of intravitreal bevacizumab should be administered as needed.