Aim: To evaluate the four-year outcome of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in an eye unit in sub-Saharan Africa. Methodology: This retrospective study included 182 eyes of 172 patients managed in the vitreoretinal unit between 2016 and 2019 who were treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF Bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) with at least one year of follow up. The outcome measures were: change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) over one year of follow-up, the number of injections taken and complications. Results: The mean age was 61.1 (SD=16.3) years (M: F of 1:1.1) and about 62.1% were > 60 years. A total of 330 injections were given during the period audited. The mean number of injections was 1.8 (SD=0.93). Ninety-four (51.7%) eyes had only one injection while 33 (18.1%), 50 (27.5%) and 5 (2.7%) had 2, 3 and 4 injections, respectively. About 78.5% had moderate-severe visual impairment (MSVI) at baseline and 44.5%, 16.4%,12.6% and 7.1% at 1, 3, 6- and 12-months post injections, respectively. The mean BCVA improved for all eyes from 1.67 (SD=0.91) logMAR at baseline to 1.50 (SD=1.27) logMAR at one year. The logMAR letters gained was 23 at 1 month and 8.25 at 1 year with a statistically significant association between increasing number of injections and improved visual outcome (p= 0.015). One patient each developed endophthalmitis (0.6%) and inferior retinal detachment (0.6%) post-injection. Conclusion: Visual acuity gain was recorded in patients who had at least two intravitreal Anti-VEGF injections in 1 year. Keywords: Intravitreal injections, bevacizumab (Avastin), ranibizumab (Lucentis), anti-VEGF, visual outcome

Background: Compare the current indications for intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, to make recommendations for planning of services. To review the current indications for intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, in order to make recommendations for planning of services.Methods: The medical records of 172 patients who had intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections from January 2016 to December 2019 were retrieved. Socio-demographic and clinical data were extracted, analysed, and compared with data from the previously published audit report covering 2010 to 2012.Results: Three hundred and thirty injections were given to 182 eyes in this cohort of patients. The mean age was 61.1±16.3 years (range <1-90 years), with a male to female ratio of 1.1:1. Retinal vein occlusion, 64 (35%) remained the most common indication for anti-VEGF injections in the eyes treated. This was followed by choroidal neovascular membrane/wet age-related macular degeneration which accounted for 42 (23%) as reported previously. However, cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy/ diabetic maculopathy needing anti-VEGF were noticed to have almost doubled from about 8 (10%) in the previous study to 15 (27%) in the present study. In addition, idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, 18 (10%) ranked above proliferative sickle cell retinopathy in the present study. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), neovascular glaucoma, retinal artery macro-aneurysm and myopic choroidal neovascular membrane were the new emerging indications.Conclusion: There is an expanding indication for anti-VEGF in the management of retinal vascular diseases in the health facility and adequate measures should be put in place for early diagnosis and management. Patients should be counselled on the availability of this treatment option.

Aim: To compare the current indications for intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy, to make recommendations for planning of services. Methodology: The medical records of 172 patients who had intravitreal anti-VEGF injections from January 2016 to December 2019 were retrieved. Socio-demographic and clinical data were extracted, analysed, and compared with data from the previously published audit report covering 2010 to 2012. Results: Three hundred and thirty injections were given to 182 eyes in this cohort of patients. The mean age was 61.1 (SD=16.3) years (range <1-90 years), with a male to female ratio of 1.1:1. Retinal vein occlusion, 64 (35%) remained the most common indication for anti-VEGF injections in the eyes treated. This was followed by choroidal neovascular membrane/ Wet age-related macular degeneration which accounted for 42 (23%) as reported previously. However, cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy/ diabetic maculopathy needing anti-VEGF were noticed to have almost doubled from about 8% (10) in the previous study to 15% (27) in the present study. In addition, idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, 18 (10%) ranked above proliferative sickle cell retinopathy in the present study. Retinopathy of prematurity, neovascular glaucoma, retinal artery macro-aneurysm and myopic choroidal neovascular membrane were the new emerging indications. Conclusion: There is an expanding indication for anti-VEGF in the management of retinal vascular diseases in our health facility and adequate measures should be put in place for early diagnosis and management. Patients should be counselled on the availability of this treatment option. Keywords: retinal diseases, intravitreal injections, anti-VEGF therapy, indications

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the 1-year outcome of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy in an eye unit in sub-Saharan Africa. Methodology: This retrospective study included 182 eyes of 172 patients managed in the vitreoretinal unit between 2016 and 2019 who were treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) with at least 1 year of follow-up. The outcome measures were change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) over 1 year of follow-up, the number of injections taken, and complications. Results: The mean age was 61.1 ± 16.3 years (male-to-female ratio of 1:1.1) and about 62.1% above >60 years. A total of 330 injections were given during the period audited. The mean number of injections was 1.8 ± 0.93. Ninety-four (51.7%) eyes had only one injection, while 33 (18.1%), 50 (27.5%), and 5 (2.7%) had 2, 3, and 4 injections, respectively. About 78.5% had moderate-to-severe visual impairment at baseline and 44.5%, 16.4%, 12.6%, and 7.1% at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post injections, respectively. The mean BCVA improved for all eyes from 1.67 ± 0.91 logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) at baseline to 1.50 ± 1.27 logMAR at 1 year. The logMAR letters gained was 23 at 1 month and 8.25 at 1 year; the eyes that had three injections gained 10 letters, while those that had one injection gained three letters. Eyes with age-related macular degeneration and idiopathic polypoidal choroidopathy gained 7.5 and 9 letters, respectively, at 1 year after at least three injections. There was a statistically significant association between an increasing number of injections and improved visual outcome (P = 0.043). One patient each developed endophthalmitis (0.6%) and inferior retinal detachment (0.6%) post injection. Conclusion: Visual acuity gain was recorded in patients who had intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in 1 year. It is recommended that patients should have more than one injection.