To evaluate the effect of repeated intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) on the thickness of the ganglion cell layer (GCL) in patients with retinal vein occlusion.

The present retrospective study included 60 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion who received more than 3 anti-VEGF injections. GCL thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. GCL thickness measurements were made at 9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study grid regions. We evaluated correlations between changes in the GCL thickness and other factors such as intraocular pressure, times of injection, and changes in central macular thickness (CMT).

As a result of multiple intravitreal anti-VEGF treatments, GCL thickness was significantly decreased from 42.99 ± 5.39 to 38.99 ± 5.53 ( p < 0.001). Changes in GCL thickness were correlated with CMT and the number of injections ( p = 0.02 and p = 0.048, respectively). However, multivariate analysis showed the change in mean GCL thickness in the retinal vein occlusion (RVO) was strongly associated only with CMT ( p < 0.001).

As a result of multiple intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF, GCL thickness decreased significantly in RVO patients and changes in GCL thickness and CMT were correlated.