Combination therapy with dexamethasone intravitreal implant and macular grid laser in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion.

PURPOSE: To test a combination of dexamethasone intravitreal
implant with macular grid laser formacular edema in
patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).
DESIGN: Prospective interventional, randomized, multicenter
study.
METHODS: Patients with macular edema secondary to
BRVO underwent an Ozurdex intravitreal implant at
baseline. After 1 month, patients were randomly assigned
to 2 study groups. Patients in Group 1 were followed up
monthly and retreated with Ozurdex implant whenever
there was a recurrence of macular edema or a decrease
in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). In Group 2
patients macular grid laser was performed between weeks
6 and 8. After that, patients were followed up and
retreated as for Group 1.
RESULTS: In Group 1 at 4 months, mean BCVA was
0.49 ± 0.35 logMAR and central retinal thickness (CRT)
was 391±172mm; both improved significantly at 6months,
to 0.32 ± 0.29 logMAR and 322 ± 160mm, respectively. In
Group 2, CRT was reduced significantly to 291 ± 76 mmat
4months, andBCVAimproved to0.25±0.20logMAR.At
the final visit, BCVA was 0.18 ± 0.14 logMAR and mean
CRT was 271 ± 44 mm. The number of Ozurdex implants
at 4 months was 12 of 25 (48%) in Group 1 patients vs 3 of
25 (12%) inGroup 2 patients (P[.012). At 6months 3 of
25 patients (12%) in Group 1 vs 0 of 25 (0%) in Group 2
(P [ .23) were retreated.
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of Ozurdex implant
and macular grid laser is synergistic in increasing BCVA
and lengthening the time between injections.