To evaluate the short-term effect and safety of intravitreally injected bevacizumab in patients with macular edema (ME) caused by retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and diabetic macular edema (DME).

We retrospectively evaluated 59 eyes of 51 patients, 29 with ME caused by RVO and 30 with DME, who received intravitreal injection of bevacizumab. Fifty-one consecutive patients (59 eyes) with ME associated with RVO and DME were treated with intravitreal injections of 1.25-2.5 mg (0.05-0.1 ml) of bevacizumab. Ophthalmic evaluation was performed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6 months after each injection. Clinical evidence of toxicity and complications, changes of visual acuity with an ETDRS chart (LogMAR), and central macular thickness (CMT) using optical coherence tomography (OCT), were evaluated.

The follow-up period was 7.3 months (7.3±0.31) and the mean number of injections was 1.2. The baseline mean LogMAR was 1.06±0.53 and mean CMT was 479.6±160.4 µm. At 1, 3 and 6 months, the mean LogMAR was 0.90±0.52, 0.80±0.39 and 0.78±0.39, respectively, and the mean CMT was 316.9±86.7 µm, 281.1±67.4 µm and 278.4±64.6 µm, respectively. No adverse incidents were observed, including cataract, retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and endophthalmitis, although transient increased intraocular pressure was observed.

Intravitreal bevacizumab injections are safe and effective in ME caused by RVO and DME.