Comparison of intravitreal ranibizumab and bevacizumab for the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion

Aim: To compare the efficacy of ranibizumab and bevacizumab for macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion (RVO).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at a single academic institution. Eighty-one patients naïve to anti-VEGF therapy with RVO and macular edema were identified. Twenty-six eyes were treated with ranibizumab, 33 eyes with bevacizumab, and 22 eyes with bevacizumab then switched to ranibizumab (crossover). The main outcome was change in visual acuity at 3 months, 6 months, and final visit.

Results: The mean visual acuity improved from 20/80 to 20/40 in the ranibizumab (R) group and from 20/125 to 20/60 in the bevacizumab (B) group (P=0.66). The mean change in central subfield thickness (CST) was -186 and -212µm, respectively (P=0.69). Mean time between injections was 94±21.1d in the R group and 103.8±10.5d in the B group (P=0.78). In the crossover group, mean initial visual acuity was 20/125, reached 20/60 at crossover, and remained 20/60 at conclusion (P=0.91).

Conclusion: Both ranibizumab and bevacizumab are effective for the treatment of RVO and appear to have similar visual and anatomic outcomes. Changing treatments from bevacizumab to ranibizumab did not result in further gains in visual acuity.