Navigated laser and aflibercept versus aflibercept monotherapy in treatment-naïve branch retinal vein occlusion: a 12 months randomized trial

PURPOSE: Angiostatic agents have proven effective in the treatment of macular oedema in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). However, treatment is inconvenient and expensive, and novel treatment regimens are warranted. We aimed to evaluate if combination treatment of navigated central retinal laser and aflibercept lowered the treatment burden in these patients. METHODS: Treatment‐naïve patients with BRVO and macular oedema were included at two centres and randomized 1:1 to three monthly injections of 2.0 mg aflibercept with (Group A) or without (Group B) navigated central laser, followed by aflibercept as needed from month 4 through 12. Re‐treatment need was evaluated, and secondary endpoints included functional and anatomical outcomes and safety evaluated by retinal microperimetry. RESULTS: We evaluated 41 eyes of 41 patients with a mean age of 69.6 years. Baseline median best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 70.0 letters, and median central retinal thickness (CRT) was 502 μm with no difference between Groups A (n = 21) and B (n = 20). Percentage of patients needing re‐treatment after month three was 71% and 80% (p = 0.72). At month 12, groups did not differ in number of injections after loading (1 versus 2, p = 0.43), change in BCVA (+12.8 versus +15.1 letters, p = 0.48), CRT (−195 versus −181 μm, p = 0.82), or retinal sensitivity (+3.3 versus +4.1 dB, p = 0.67). CONCLUSION: In treatment‐naïve BRVO patients, addition of navigated central laser to aflibercept did not lower treatment burden or affect functional or anatomical outcomes. A low number of intravitreal injections were needed for successful outcome in both treatment arms

Predictive value of retinal oximetry, optical coherence tomography angiography and microperimetry in patients with treatment-naïve branch retinal vein occlusion

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors have substantially improved the visual outcomes in patients with macular edema (ME) caused by branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), but treatment outcomes are highly variable and early prediction of expected clinical outcome would be important for individualized treatment. As non-invasive metabolic, structural and functional retinal markers might act as early predictors of clinical outcomes, we performed a 12-month, prospective study aimed to evaluate if baseline retinal oximetry, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) or microperimetry were able to predict need of treatment, structural or functional outcome in patients with ME caused by treatment-näive BRVO. We evaluated 41 eyes of 41 patients with a mean age of 69.6 years and 56% females. We found a strong tendency towards a higher retinal arteriolar oxygen saturation in patients without a need of additional aflibercept treatment after the loading phase (99.8% vs. 92.3%, adjusted odds ratio 0.80 (95% confidence interval 0.64-1.00), adjusted p = 0.058), but otherwise, retinal oximetry, OCT-A or microperimetry were not able to predict need of treatment, structural nor functional outcomes. (Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, S-20,170,084. Registered 24 August 2014, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03651011