Two-Year Results of Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection in Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The authors evaluated the 2-year clinical results of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in retinal vein occlusion (RVO). METHODS: Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients treated with an intravitreal bevacizumab injection of 1.25 mg (0.05 ml) for RVO (branch RVO 22 eyes, central RVO 10 eyes), repeated 3 times at a 6-week interval and were available for a follow-up period of at least 2 years were retrospectively reviewed. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before treatment and 6, 12, and 24 months after 3 serial injections, was recorded. The optical coherence tomography (OCT) results were analyzed to identify prognostic factors for recurrent macular edema that needed reinjection. RESULTS: Two years after the treatment, mean BCVA was significantly improved (p = 0.000). Out of 32 eyes, 16 (branch RVO 8 eyes; central RVO 8 eyes) needed reinjection because of recurrent macular edema. In central RVO, a significantly high reinjection rate was shown in serous retinal detachment (SRD) compared with cystoid macular edema (CME) as identified in OCT findings (p = 0.049). Additionally, in branch RVO, a high reinjection rate was shown in SRD, although statistically not significant (p = 0.375). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with RVO, a significant visual improvement was maintained for at least 2 years after intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Based on OCT results, SRD showed a high reinjection rate compared with CME in CRVO.