To assess long-term comparisions of intravitreal bevacizumab injection (IVB group) with natural course (Natural course group) in patients with macular edema after branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Fifty-seven patients were included in this retrospective study and were followed-up for at least 12 months. Patients in the Natural course group (27 eyes of 27 patients) were enrolled before February 2007, and patients in the IVB group (30 eyes of 30 patients) underwent intravitreal bevacizumab injection as-needed after February 2007. The main efficacy outcome was reported as the mean change from baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and all patients were measured at the initial visit and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Retreatment criteria included central subfield macular thickness (CSMT) greater than 300 µm or increased CSMT of at least 100 µm between visits.

There were no statistically significant differences in age or initial BCVA between the 2 groups. Mean changes of BCVA at initial visit and at 3 and 12 months were 0.61 ± 0.48, 0.44 ± 0.46 and 0.34 ± 0.40 in the Natural course group and 0.67 ± 0.40, 0.31 ± 0.26 and 0.27 ± 0.25 in the IVB group, respectively. Improvement in BCVA was observed in both groups at 12 months, although the IVB group improved significantly more at 3 months and not at 12 months ( p = 0.018, p = 0.187, respectively).

More frequent bevacizumab injection schedule appears necessary to achieve better long-term visual outcome for patients with macular edema following BRVO.