Intravitreal bevacizumab injections for treatment of central retinal vein occlusion: six-month results of a prospective trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA) injections on visual acuity and foveal retinal thickness in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). METHODS: In this prospective, noncomparative, consecutive, interventional case series, 46 patients received repeated intravitreal injections (1.25 mg) of bevacizumab. Main outcome measures were visual acuity (Snellen and ETDRS charts) and optical coherence tomography measurements in a 6-month follow-up period. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity improved from 20/250 at baseline to 20/80 at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.001). ETDRS chart findings revealed a mean letter gain +/-SD from baseline to 6 months of 13.9 +/- 14.4 letters. Mean central retinal thickness +/-SD decreased from 535 +/- 148 microm at baseline to 323 +/- 116 microm at the 6-month follow-up. Ischemic CRVO was associated with significantly lower visual acuity than nonischemic CRVO (P < 0.001). However, visual acuity gain was similar in both groups. Independent of duration of symptoms, CRVO was associated with a similar gain in visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of bevacizumab appears to be a new treatment option for patients with macular edema secondary to CRVO.