Comparison of different doses of subconjunctival sunitinib with bevacizumab in the treatment of corneal neovascularization in experimental rats

To compare the efficacy of subconjunctival administration of bevacizumab and different doses of sunitinib malate in reducing corneal neovascularization (CNV).
In this experimental study, central corneal cauterization was created in the right eye of fifty male Sprague–Dawley rats. On day 1 (1 week after cauterization), rats were randomly assigned into five treatment groups. Group control (n = 10) received subconjunctival injection of 0.02 ml of base saline solution. Group 1 (n = 10) received 0.02 ml of bevacizumab (25 mg/ml). Group 2, 3, and 4 (n = 10 for each group) were treated with 0.02 ml of sunitinib malate (10, 20, and 50 ?g/ml, respectively). On days 1, 7, and 14, digital photographs of the cornea were taken, and the area of CNV was measured.
During the 2?week follow?up, CNV area in treatment groups was less than in control group (P Subconjunctival sunitinib malate is more effective than bevacizumab in regressing CNV. This effect is more prominent on day 14.