PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections for secondary macular edema of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We treated 91 patients (91 eyes) with IVB injections (1.25 mg/0.05 ml), including 27 eyes which received two injections. Visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after injection. RESULTS: The mean visual acuity and CRT improved from 0.25 (610.8 microm) at baseline to 0.47 (238.4 microm) 4 weeks after injection and 0.45 (368.7 microm) after 12 weeks. Twenty seven eyes among the total of 91 eyes had a second injection due to recurrence or worsened metamorphopsia. In these cases, mean visual acuity and CRT improved from 0.33 (483.7 microm) at baseline to 0.44 (234.3 microm) 4 weeks after injection and 0.42 (296.8 microm) after 12 weeks. Comparing the efficacy by the number of treatments, visual acuity and CRT improved more significantly in a first time treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: IVB injection is generally effective, but recurrence occurred in 26/47 eyes based on CRT. The second injection is effective, however, its effect is weak when compared with the first injection.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injections for secondary macular edema of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We treated 91 patients (91 eyes) with IVB injections (1.25 mg/0.05 ml), including 27 eyes which received two injections. Visual acuity and central retinal thickness (CRT) were measured at 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after injection. RESULTS: The mean visual acuity and CRT improved from 0.25 (610.8 microm) at baseline to 0.47 (238.4 microm) 4 weeks after injection and 0.45 (368.7 microm) after 12 weeks. Twenty seven eyes among the total of 91 eyes had a second injection due to recurrence or worsened metamorphopsia. In these cases, mean visual acuity and CRT improved from 0.33 (483.7 microm) at baseline to 0.44 (234.3 microm) 4 weeks after injection and 0.42 (296.8 microm) after 12 weeks. Comparing the efficacy by the number of treatments, visual acuity and CRT improved more significantly in a first time treatment group. CONCLUSIONS: IVB injection is generally effective, but recurrence occurred in 26/47 eyes based on CRT. The second injection is effective, however, its effect is weak when compared with the first injection.