Summary statement: Direct photocoagulation reduces the central foveal thickness (CFT) in cases with chronic branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) of longer than 12 months duration. Photo-coagulation might be effective for chronic macular edema due to branch retinal vein occlusion.
Background: The aim was to investigate the effect of direct photocoagulation for treating chronic macular edema associated with BRVO.
Methods: This study was a noncomparative, pilot interventional case series. We examined the CFT and best-corrected visual acuity over 6 months in patients with BRVO treated with direct photocoagulation.
Results: Sixteen eyes of 16 patients had been treated with direct photocoagulation (mean follow-up period, 20.5 months). The mean CFT decreased significantly (P<0.001) between the baseline (465 μm) and the final visit (304 μm). The mean (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution equivalent) best-corrected visual acuity at the baseline was 0.39 and improved significantly (P<0.001) to 0.20 at the final visit.
Conclusion: Direct photocoagulation to leakage points is beneficial for treating chronic macular edema associated with chronic BRVO of longer than 12 months duration.
Keywords: VEGF; branch retinal vein occlusion; macular edema; optical coherence tomography; photocoagulation.