Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the baseline spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) characteristics of macular edema (ME) due to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) for visual outcome after intravitreal bevacizumab injection
Methods: :
Sixty-four eyes of 64 consecutive patients treated with intravitreal bevacizumab for ME due to BRVO with minimum follow-up of 3 months were retrospectively reviewed. Fourier-domain OCT (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) morphology at baseline was analyzed retrospectively to evaluate its effect on treatment outcome (Visual aucity as logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution: logMAR). Baseline SD OCT images were studied with regard to central retinal thickness (CRT), presence of subretinal fluid (SRF), status of photoreceptor inner/outer segment (IS/OS) integrity, and status of external limiting membrane (ELM).
Results: :
The mean VA was 0.90 logMAR±0.50 at baseline, and 0.49 logMAR±0.50 at final visit. The mean height of CRT was 575.70±191.61µm (263µm~984µm) at baseline, and 324.28±139.36 (133.00µm~772.00µm) at final. SRF was present in 34 patients (53%), and significantly correlated with final VA (p=0.001). Photoreceptor IS/OS integrity was disrupted in 33 patients (52%). However, the status of photoreceptor IS/OS integrity was not significantly correlated with final VA (p=0.315). ELM was disrupted in 24 patients (38%), and the status of ELM was significantly correlated with final VA (p=0.001). In addition to baseline OCT morphology, baseline visual acuity (VA) was significantly correlated with final VA (p=0.000).
Conclusions: :
In BRVO patients, baseline SD OCT morphologic characteristics such as SRF and status of ELM were significantly associated with final VA outcome after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. SD OCT characteristics of ME can be predictors of response to intravitreal bevacizumab therapy in BRVO patients.
Keywords: retina • vascular endothelial growth factor • vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease