Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the short-term effects of intravitreal injections of bevacizumab on macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Methods: :
Twenty one eyes of 21 consecutive patients with macular edema due to CRVO were included. The patients received intravitreal injections of 1.25mg of bevacizumab at the initial examination. They were followed up with best-corrected visual acuity (BVCA), fluorescein angiography, and central macular thickness (CMT) by OCT for more than 4 months. When the macular edema recurred, another intravitreal bevacizumab was given.
Results: :
The mean age of the patients was 68.1±11.8 and the mean follow up was 6.5±2.6 months. The mean baseline BVCA (logMAR) and CMT were 0.79±0.45 and 699±194µm, respectively. After the treatment, the mean BVCA were significantly improved at 1 week (0.52±0.46, p<0.001), 1 month (0.48±0.46, p<0.001), 2 months (0.56±0.43, p<0.02), and 4 months (0.51±0.47, p<0.001), respectively. The mean CMT were also significantly decreased at 1 week (296±86µm, p<0.001), 1 month (286±132µm, p<0.001), 2 months (464±249µm, p<0.05) and 4 months (362±198µm, p<0.001). Similar effects on reducing CMT were obtained both after the initial injection and the second injection of bevacizumab.
Conclusions: :
Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab was effective to improve visual acuity and macular edema due to CRVO.
Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • edema • vascular endothelial growth factor