Long-term outcomes of intravitreous bevacizumab or tissue plasminogen activator or vitrectomy for macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion.

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) or intravitreal tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or vitrectomy for macular edema associated with a branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).MethodsThis was a retrospective, interventional case series. Forty-one patients received a single 1.25 mg of IVB injection and followed by pro re nata protocol, 71 patients received a single intravitreal tPA, and 116 patients underwent phacovitrectomy with intraocular lens implantation.ResultsThe baseline characteristics and follow-up periods were not significantly different among the three groups. The mean follow-up period was 55.5 months with a range of 12–160 months. Sixteen patients (39.0%) in the IVB group, 24 patients (33.8%) in the tPA group, and two patients (1.7%) in the vitrectomy group underwent additional surgeries during the follow-up period. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) significantly improved in all groups at 1 year after the initial treatment (all, P<0.0001) and at the final visit (all, P<0.0001). The differences in the BCVA between the three groups were not significant at all times after the initial treatment.ConclusionThe three groups led to similar long-term good visual outcomes. However, additional surgeries were performed in more than 30% of patients in the IVB and tPA groups.