Anti‐ VEGF treatment in branch retinal vein occlusion: a real‐world experience over 4 years

PURPOSE: To determine long-term outcome of intraocular antagonism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in macular oedema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: A total of 28 consecutive patients were treated with either intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) or intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) in the first series and were evaluated after a mean follow-up of 5 years for their functional and anatomical outcome. RESULTS: Time between onset of macular oedema and initial treatment was 5.2 ± 0.4/0.1 ± 0.1 (IVB/IVR) months. A mean of 4 intravitreal injections were given per patients in the first 6 months. In months 7-12 intravitreal injections decreased to 2 and further decreased in the second year (months 13-18: 1.14; months 19-24: 0.5) and third year (months 25-30: 0.4; months 31-36: 0.2). After the fourth year, only two of the 28 patients received further treatment. Average visual acuity (VA) increased by 16 letters after 1 year (p < 0.01) and although not statistically significantly, by a mean of 5 letters (p = 0.3) at long-term evaluation (IVB-group). However, after mean of 5 years, central retinal sensitivity (CRS) improved by 3.6 dB (p = 0.01) and central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased by 161 μm (p = 0.02). In the IVR-group, VA and CRS increased significantly (31 letters and respectively 4.4 dB, p < 0.001) and CRT decreased by 229 μm (p < 0.001) after long-term follow-up. Final functional results were significantly better in patients with treatment initiation <3 months (79 versus 55 letters, p = 0.01). Microvascular abnormalities were detected in 88% (21 of 24 patients), hyperfluorescence in 42% (10 of 24 patients) on wide-field fluorescein angiography in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of VEGF provides substantial long-term benefits for patients with ME secondary to BRVO. Early treatment with anti-VEGF agents and extended therapeutic surveillance was associated with improved visual recovery.