Evaluation of intravitreal aflibercept injected alone against aflibercept with triamcinolone acetonide for management of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the intravitreal injection of aflibercept alone compared to combined aflibercept with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in the management of macular edema (ME) secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Patients and methods This is a prospective comparative study that included 40 cases with ME secondary to RVO. They were divided into two equal groups each of 20 eyes. Group 1 were managed by intravitreal injection of aflibercept (Elyea) alone, while group 2 were treated by aflibercept plus TA. All cases were examined preoperatively and during the follow-up visits of 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postinjection. The outcome measures were visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP), central macular thickness (CMT) with optical coherence tomography, number of injections, and postoperative complications. Results The mean age of groups 1 and 2 was 46.33±4.5 and 47.25±5.25 years, respectively. Both groups were matched in age and sex ( P >0.05). Central RVO was observed in 11 (55%) and 12 (60%) eyes in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The difference was statistically insignificant ( P =0.879). Branch RVO was observed in nine (45%) and eight (40%) eyes in groups 1 and 2, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( P =0.745). The VA was significantly improved from baseline to 3 months postinjection in both groups. However, it was more significantly improved in group 2 compared to group 1 at 3-, 6-, and 12-month postinjection ( P 0.05). The CMT was significantly decreased from baseline to 1-month postinjection in both groups and continued to decrease till the end of the follow-up period ( P