Aqueous Concentrations of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Eyes with High Myopia with and without Choroidal Neovascularization

Purpose. To investigate aqueous concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in eyes with myopic choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods. Aqueous samples were collected, and VEGF concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 16 eyes (16 patients) with active myopic CNV, 23 eyes (16 patients) with high myopia without myopic CNV, and 8 control eyes (7 patients). Differences in the concentrations of VEGF in each group were compared. Results. The estimated mean VEGF concentrations were significantly lower in eyes with myopic CNV (82.0 pg/mL) (P = 0.016 ) and with high myopia without myopic CNV (58.9 pg/mL) (P < 0.001) compared with controls (116.6 pg/mL). The estimated mean VEGF concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in eyes with myopic CNV than in those without myopic CNV in highly myopic eyes. In eyes with high myopia with and without CNV, the VEGF concentration was significantly (stepwise regression analysis, R = 0.325, P = 0.044) associated with the presence of myopic CNV but not with age, axial length, or intraocular pressure. Conclusion. Increased levels of VEGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of CNV in highly myopic eyes.