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

Purpose: 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.