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Bevacizumab was found to be nontoxic to the retina of rabbits based on electrophysiologic studies. Full thickness retinal penetration may explain observed clinical effects of intravitreal bevacizumab. Although it is difficult to directly extrapolate to humans, our study supports the safe use of intravitreal bevacizumab injection.

Recent evidence suggests that the adult mammalian retina is far more plastic than was previously thought. Retinal detachment induces changes beyond the degeneration of outer segments (OS). Changes in photoreceptor synapses, second- and even third-order neurons may all contribute to imperfect visual recovery that can occur after successful reattachment. Changes that occur in Müller cells have obvious effects through subretinal fibrosis and proliferative vitreoretinopathy, but other unidentified effects seem likely as well. Reattachment of the retina induces its own set of responses aside from OS re-growth. Reattachment halts the growth of Müller cell processes into the subretinal space, but induces their growth on the vitreal surface. It also induces the outgrowth of rod axons into the inner retina.

The neural and glial components of detached neurosensory retina complicated by PVR exhibit pathology that changes characteristically with increasing detachment severity. Even in advanced degeneration, most of the structural motifs necessary for functional recovery are retained. Evidence of remodeling in the first-, second-, and third-order neurons of detached adult human retina may represent an attempt to re-establish synaptic connectivity.