ISCHEMIC CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION IN THE ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR ERA

Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy has improved the prognosis for patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). However, most studies published to date exclude ischemic CRVO. The purpose of this study was to describe the outcome in eyes with ischemic CRVO treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.

Thirty-seven patients with ischemic CRVO from 3 centers were followed for at least 6 months. Data on patient demographic, vision status, and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatments were collected.

Average number of injections during the study period was 5. Younger age was associated with improved vision (P = 0.006). Patients with improved visual outcomes tended to have macular edema as the primary indication for treatment, whereas patients with worse outcomes tended to have neovascularization as the primary indication for treatment.

This study highlights significant variability in the use of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for ischemic CRVO and underscores that eyes with neovascularization tend to have worse visual outcomes.