Application of Topical/Subconjunctival Bevacizumab and Topical Fluorometholone Acetate in Alkali Burn-induced Model of Corneal Angiogenesis

Purpose: To investigate the effect of bevacizumab on corneal neovascularization in an alkali burn -induced model of corneal angiogenesis. Material and Method: Twenty-four Wistar albino rats were used in our study. After chemical cauterization of the cornea, the rats were divided randomly into four groups. Group 1 (control group) received artificial tears twice a day, group 2 received topical fluorometholone acetate twice a day, in group 3, a single dose of bevacizumab (2.5 mg) was administered by a subconjunctival injection, and group 4 received topical bevacizumab 5mg/ml twice a day. Three weeks later, the rat corneas were evaluated by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and corneal photographs were taken with a digital camera, followed by sacrifice of the subjects. The proportional area of vascularized cornea, length of the longest neovascular sprout, corneal oedema and corneal opacity score were assessed. Result: The analysis of digital photographs showed less corneal neovascularization, corneal oedema, corneal opacity score and shorter length of the longest neovascular sprout in the three drug groups than in the control one (p<0.05). The area of corneal neovascularization in groups 3 and 4 was less than in group 2 (p=0.035 and p=0.027, respectively). Corneal neovascularization, corneal oedema and corneal opacity did not differ significantly between the subconjunctival and topical bevacizumab groups. However, statistically significant decrease was observed in the length of the longest neovascular sprout in the topical bevacizumab group (p=0.029). Discussion: Subconjunctival/topical bevacizumab treatment is an effective method in reducing corneal neovascularization. However, we observed that topical bevadzumab is more efficient than subconjunctival bevacizumab and fluorometholone acetate in preventing corneal neovascularization.