BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to investigate the 12-month outcome of macular edema secondary to both chronic and new central and branch retinal vein occlusions treated with intravitreal bevacizumab in the real-life clinical setting in the UK.MethodsRetrospective case notes analysis of consecutive patients with retinal vein occlusions treated with bevacizumab in 2010 to 2012. Outcome measures were visual acuity (measured with Snellen, converted into logMAR [logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution] for statistical calculation) and central retinal thickness at baseline, 4 weeks post-loading phase, and at 1 year.ResultsThere were 56 and 100 patients with central and branch retinal vein occlusions, respectively, of whom 62% had chronic edema and received prior therapies and another 32% required additional laser treatments post-baseline bevacizumab. Baseline median visual acuity was 0.78 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.48–1.22) in the central group and 0.6 (IQR 0.3–0.78) in the branch group. In both groups, visual improvement was statistically significant from baseline compared to post-loading (P<0.001 and P=0.03, respectively), but was not significant by month 12 (P=0.058 and P=0.166, respectively); 30% improved by at least three lines and 44% improved by at least one line by month 12. Baseline median central retinal thickness was 449 μm (IQR 388–553) in the central group and 441 μm (IQR 357–501) in the branch group. However, the mean reduction in thickness was statistically significant at post-loading (P<0.001) and at the 12-month time point (P<0.001) for both groups. The average number of injections in 1 year was 4.2 in the central group and 3.3 in the branch group.ConclusionOur large real-world cohort results indicate that bevacizumab introduced to patients with either new or chronic edema due to retinal vein occlusion can result in resolution of edema and stabilization of vision in the first year.

A 65-year-old Caucasian male presented to the eye emergency department with bilateral significant visual loss. He was otherwise healthy with no significant past medical history. Ophthalmic history was significant for chronic open-angle glaucoma, for which the patient was using latanoprost once daily to both eyes. There was no preceding history of trauma or ocular surgery and the patient was emmetropic. Two weeks prior to his presentation, he reported a headache, which settled spontaneously. Slit-lamp examination demonstrated bilateral keratic precipitates, bilateral significantly shallow anterior chamber, and bilaterally normal intraocular pressures of 16 mm Hg. Fundal examination was significant for bilateral 360-degree choroidal detachments with exudative retinal detachment involving the maculae. These findings were confirmed using wide-field fundus photography, B-scan ultrasonography, and optical coherence tomography. Fundus fluorescein angiography did not reveal any evidence of retinal vasculitis. Indocyanine green chorioangiography of the posterior pole showed multiple areas of focal choroidal hypoperfusion. Extensive systemic investigation demonstrated no infectious, neoplastic, or inflammatory cause, and the patient did not complain of any systemic symptoms. Treatment with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone was administered and this brought about complete resolution of both choroidal and retinal detachments, with partial visual recovery.