To evaluate the short-term efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab injection in eyes with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

The records of 17 patients (17 eyes, 11 ischemic, six ischemic) who received an intravitreal ranibizumab injection for macular edema secondary to CRVO were retrospectively analyzed. The ophthalmic examination included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness (CMT) at baseline and follow-up visits.

After intravitreal ranibizumab injection, the mean BCVA improved from log MAR 1.25 ± 0.47 at baseline to log MAR 0.78 ± 0.49 at 4 weeks and to log MAR 0.81 ± 0.52 at 12 weeks ( p < 0.05). Additionally, the mean CMT decreased from 679.4 ± 230.5 µm at baseline to 224.4 ± 129.9 µm at 4 weeks and to 271.6 ± 174.1µm at 12 weeks ( p < 0.001). In subgroup analysis, the decreases in CMT at 4 weeks and 12 weeks were similar in ischemic CRVO and non-ischemic CRVO, but no significant changes in visual acuity were found at 12 weeks in the ischemic CRVO group ( p = 0.138). Ten eyes (58.8%) did not require re-injections for macular edema for up to 12 weeks.

Intravitreal ranibizumab injection appeared to be an effective option for the treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion.