Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the one-year results of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (IVB) for the treatment of macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Methods: :
Forty-seven eyes of 47 consecutive patients (mean age 68.6 years; 20 men and 27 women) treated with IVB (1.25 mg/0.05 ml) for macular edema due to a BRVO were reviewed. All patients completed at least 12 months of follow-up. Patients had a complete ophthalmic evaluation including Snellen visual acuity (VA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and/or angiographic testing at baseline and at follow-up visits. IVB was given as needed based on the presence of macular edema on OCT.
Results: :
The time between the onset of symptoms and the first injection averaged 5.6 months (range, 1 to 13.3). Patients received an average of 1.7 injections (range, one to four). The mean VA improved significantly from 0.68 logMAR units at baseline to 0.42 logMAR units at 12 months (P<0.01). The mean central retinal thickness (CRT) was 525 micron at baseline and decreased to 271 at 12 months (P <0.01). An improvement of the BCVA by at least 0.2 logMAR units was seen in 29 (61.7%) of the 47 eyes, and 49% had a final VA of 20/40 or better. The degree of angiographically-documented macular ischemia was significantly higher, and the duration of disease was longer in eyes with final BCVA less than 20/40.
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal injections of bevacizumab are effective in treating macular edema due to BRVO. No ocular toxicity or adverse effects were observed.
Keywords: retina • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications