Efficacy of Ranibizumab in the Treatment of Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion

Abstract

Objective: Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), a major cause of vision loss, is a significant ocular health concern. The frequency of macular edema due to BRVO is a critical area of study because of its profound impact on patient quality of life. This study investigated the effectiveness of ranibizumab, a monoclonal antibody fragment and VEGF inhibitor, in the treatment of macular edema in patients with BRVO. Material and Methods: Twelve patients (12 eyes) diagnosed with macular edema secondary to BRVO were included in this study. Patients were selected on the basis of specific visual acuity and macular thickness criteria, excluding those with other ocular conditions or systemic diseases. 0.05 milligrams of ranibizumab was administered intravitreally to each patient. Ophthalmological assessments were conducted both before and after the injection and at 1, 2, 3, and 6-month intervals following medication administration. Results: The average follow-up duration was 5.5±1.16 months (ranging from 2 to 6 months). The average central macular thickness before the injection was 542.66±191.44 µm, which decreased to 320.50±101.44 µm at 1-month post-injection, 283.66±125.01 µm at 2 months, 299.40±91.52 µm at 3 months, and 260.90±144.97 µm at 6 months. The reduction in central macular thickness at all time points was statistically significant (p<0.01). The mean Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter score was 55.83±23.91 before the injection and improved to 71.25±17.07 at 1 month, 74.33±15.97 at 2 months, 66.7±21.60 at 3 months, and 71.2±17.38 at 6 months post-injection. The increase in visual acuity at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after the injection was statistically significant compared to the pre-injection ETDRS letter scores (p<0.05). An improvement of two or more lines in visual acuity was observed in 58.3% of cases at 1 month, 58.3% at 2 months, 50% at 3 months, and 80% at 6 months (one line equivalent to five letters). Conclusion: Intravitreal Ranibizumab injections have been found to be effective and reliable in the early stages of treating macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion.