Combined intravitreal bevacizumab and grid laser photocoagulation for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) versus combined IVB and macular grid laser photocoagulation for the treatment of macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: In this prospective study, 18 eyes were randomized into 2 groups according to treatment: Group 1 (9 eyes) underwent IVB at baseline, at month 1, and at month 2; Group 2 (9 eyes) underwent same IVB protocol combined with macular grid laser photocoagulation. Macular edema and visual acuity represented the endpoints of the study. IVB reinjections were performed in both groups if recurrent macular edema was diagnosed. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography examination as well as visual acuity examination were performed during follow-up. Statistical evaluation was performed for a matched-pair analysis. RESULTS: In Group 1, median baseline central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased from 420 \ub5m (95% confidence interval 355.6-484.4) to 323 \ub5m (261.44-384.56) at month 12 (p=0.06); median baseline BCVA improved from 0.7 logMAR (0.54-0.86) to 0.4 logMAR (0.29-0.51) at month 12 (p<0.01). In Group 2, baseline CRT decreased from 386 \ub5m (353.91-418.09) to 238 \ub5m (200.58-275.42) at month 12 (p<0.01); median BCVA improved from 0.6 logMAR (0.45-0.75) to 0.2 logMAR (0.12-0.28) at month 12 (p