Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal injection of bevacizumab as treatment for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
Methods::
This study was a retrospective, interventional, clinical case series examining 13 eyes of 13 patients who received an intravitreal injection of 1.5 mg of bevacizumab for treatment of macular edema associated with non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Inclusion criteria were clinically significant macular edema, visual acuity loss, and leakage shown by fluorescein angiography. Main outcome measure was best corrected visual acuity (Snellen). Secondary outcome measures were central retinal thickness as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intraocular pressure (IOP)
Results::
Visual acuity improved significantly (P=0.002) from 0.24 ± 0.24 at baseline to 0.38 ± 0.26 at 1 month after injection. Mean central retinal thickness decreased significantly (P<0.001) from 500 ± 124 µm at baseline to 278 µm ± 92. Mean intraocular pressure increased not significantly from 15.2 ± 2.5 mm Hg to 16.0 ± 3.3 mm Hg during the follow-up period (P=0.33).
Conclusions::
Intravitreal bevacizumab (1.5 mg) may lead to an increase in visual acuity in patients with non-ischemic branch retinal vein occlusion, accompanied by a decrease in macular thickening, without a change in intraocular pressure.
Keywords: macula/fovea • vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • visual development