Non-Routine Therapies for the Treatment of Branched Retinal Vein Occlusion and Macular Edema

Abstract

Retinal vein occlusion is the second most common retinal vascular disorder after diabetic retinopathy and is considered to be an important cause of visual loss. There are several treatment modalities for branch retinal vein occlusion and specifically for its complications, such as macular edema, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal neovascularization, and retinal detachment. These treatment modalities are anti-aggregative therapy and fibrinolysis, isovolemic hemodilution, vitrectomy with or without sheathotomy, peripheral scatter and macular grid retinal laser therapy, non-steroid agents, intravitreal steroids ( triamcinolone, and dexamethasone implants), and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factors (anti-VEGFs) (bevacizumab, ranibizumab, aflibercept). In this review, the treatment modalities other than routinely performed anti-VEGF, steroid, and laser therapy in macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion and emerging therapies will be overviewed.