Comparison of the Efficacy of Intravitreal Aflibercept and Bevacizumab for Macular Edema Secondary to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion.

Fifty-two eyes of 52 patients with treatment-naïve macular edema associated with perfused branch retinal vein occlusion were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-seven cases received PRN intravitreal bevacizumab, and 25 cases were treated by PRN intravitreal aflibercept with monthly follow-ups for 12 months. Both aflibercept and bevacizumab were effective in reduction of macular thickness and improvement of visual acuity for the participants. Both antivascular endothelial growth factor agents had similar efficacy and duration of treatment for these eyes with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion during a 12-month period. No serious systemic or ocular adverse events were reported.

Intravitreal Aflibercept for Macular Edema Secondary to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion in Chinese Patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term efficacy and safety of intravitreal aflibercept in a case series of patients from Taiwan, China, with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: A total of 32 patients with macular edema associated with BRVO, without prior macular laser or other intervention, were enrolled consecutively from September 2013 to February 2015. The cases received single 2 mg injections of intravitreal aflibercept. Primary outcome measures included changes in central foveal thickness (CFT; 1 mm increments by spectral-domain optic coherence tomography) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), determined at 1, 2, and 3 months after the injection. Complications after injections were recorded. The changes in CFT and BCVA were compared with Wilcoxon sign-rank tests. RESULTS: The CFT was significantly reduced and the BCVA was significantly improved at 1, 2, and 3 months after injection (all P < 0.05). Tomography findings revealed no recurrence within 3 months. No systemic thromboembolic events, elevated intraocular pressure, retinal detachment, or infectious endophthalmitis occurred following injection. CONCLUSION: Single intravitreal aflibercept may be useful in treating macular edema associated with BRVO within 3 months. No adverse systemic or ocular effects were found in this case series.