Treating Macular Telangiectasis

Idiopathic macular telangiectasia is a condition where abnormal blood vessels are associated with central vision loss. We published a study in the journal RETINA, to determine the benefit of treating this condition with an injection of bevacizumab (Avastin).

We found that bevacizumab did not improve acuity or reduce retinal thickness in nonproliferative macular telangiectasia Type 2 at final follow-up. However, in proliferative macular telangiectasia Type 2, bevacizumab caused involution of neovascularization and improved visual acuity.

Fourteen eyes of 10 patients were included. In 5 eyes with nonproliferative macular telangiectasia Type 2, average follow-up was 17 months ( +/- 7 months), and no eye demonstrated improvement in visual acuity or decrease in central macular thickness at final follow-up compared with baseline. In 9 eyes with proliferative disease, follow-up averaged 17 months (+/- 9 months). At 6 weeks, central macular thickness decreased 63 microns (+/- 58 mm), and acuity improved 1.7 lines (62 lines). At final follow-up, central macular thickness decreased 48 microns (+/- 89 mm) and acuity improved 1.1 lines (+/- 3 lines). Subretinal neovascularization resolved in eight of nine eyes with proliferative disease after treatment.