Efficacy of single bevacizumab injection as adjuvant therapy to laser photocoagulation in macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.
BACKGROUND
Macular grid laser photocoagulation remains the standard treatment for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). One possible strategy for treating macular edema is to inhibit VEGF activity by competitive binding of VEGF with an anti-VEGF antibody, suggesting the therapy option with bevacizumab. However, multiple injections of anti-VEGF may lead to complications and high cost.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the improvement in visual acuity and central macular thickness after combination therapy of laser photocoagulation with single intravitreal bevacizumab injection in macular edema secondary to BRVO.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with macular edema secondary to BRVO were assigned to either the group of nine patients in combination therapy of laser photocoagulation with intravitreal bevacizumab or the group of ten patients in the laser photocoagulation therapy. Complete ophthalmologic examinations were performed just before the therapy and at 1 month following the therapy. Changes in visual acuity were tested with the logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR), and central macular thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT).


RESULTS
Combination therapy of laser photocoagulation and single intravitreal bevacizumab injection resulted in a significantly better visual acuity compared to laser photocoagulation therapy (0.35 versus 0.13 logMAR;P=0.041) and reduced macular thickness by 120.33 µm versus 71.50 µm (P=0.277), although this difference was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser photocoagulation combined with a single intravitreal bevacizumab has a substantial effect on increasing visual acuity in macular edema secondary to BRVO.
Department of Ophthalmology, Universitas Padjadjaran/Cicendo National Eye Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia.
Arief S
AS
Kartasasmita
Department of Ophthalmology, Universitas Padjadjaran/Cicendo National Eye Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia.
Siska
S
Takarai
Department of Ophthalmology, Universitas Padjadjaran/Cicendo National Eye Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia.
Astriviani
A
Switania
Department of Ophthalmology, Universitas Padjadjaran/Cicendo National Eye Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia.
Sutarya
S
Enus
bevacizumab; branch retinal vein occlusion; grid laser photocoagulation; macular edema; vascular endothelial growth factor