Purpose: To evaluate therapeutic effect after intravitreal bevacizumab in eyes with persistent macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) or central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Methods: Twenty one consecutive eyes with macular edema secondary to BRVO (17 eyes) or CRVO (4 eyes) were included. Patients underwent Snellen visual acuity testing and convert to LogMAR, fundus examination with contact lens, color fundus photography and fluorescein angiography at baseline and follow-up visits.The intravitreal bevacizumab injections (Avastin®)were administered twice at three month interval.

Results: After 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up, best corrected visual acuity increased from 20/240 (1.09±0.25 logMAR) to 20/46 (0.36±0.16 logMAR) for CRVO; from 20/126 (0.80±0.29 logMAR) to 20/32 (0.2±0.23 logMAR) for BRVO (p<0.0001). No drug-related systemic or ocular side effects following intravitreal bevacizumab treatment were observed. Fluorescein angiography revealed no leakage and no progression of avascular areas.

Conclusions: Intravitreal therapy using bevacizumab appears to be a safe and effective treatment in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion.