Comparison of ranibizumab and bevacizumab for macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion

Abstract

To assess the effectiveness of intravitreal ranibizumab compared with bevacizumab for the treatment of macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Methods: This was a retrospective study of 64 eyes with macular edema associated with RVO. Patients received either 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab (n = 32) or 0.5 mg of intravitreal ranibizumab (n = 32). Visual acuity, clinical bio-microscopic examination and central macular thickness (CMT) by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) was assessed at 6 weeks post injection. The CMT before and six weeks after the injection as assessed by OCT were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using paired student t-test. The improvement in CMT was also compared between the two groups, statistical analysis was performed using un-paired student t-test. Results: The best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved from logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) 0.792 ±0.36 at baseline to 0.575 ± 0.34 at 6 weeks in the bevacizumab group (p =0.001) and from logMAR 0.851 ± 0.35 at baseline to 0.336 ± 0.20 at 6 weeks in the ranibizumab group (p = 0.001), which is statistically significant difference. The reduction in CMT was from 545.44 ± 176.43 μm at baseline to 378.34 ±95.13 at 6 weeks in the bevacizumab group (p = 0.001) and 524.25± 195.94 μm at baseline to 243±80.72 μm at 6 weeks in the ranibizumab group (p=0.001) which was also a statistically significant difference (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Both ranibizumab and bevacizumab were effective for the treatment of RVO. The visual outcome and reduction in macular thickness was better by ranibizumab at the earliest follow-up of 6 weeks.