# Visual Acuity and Retinal Thickness and Sensitivity after Intravitreal Ranibizumab Injection for Macular Edema in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

## TL;DR

This study shows that ranibizumab injections improve vision and retinal health in some patients with a type of eye disease.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific retinal regions where ranibizumab injections have varying effects based on visual improvement outcomes.

## Key findings

- IRI significantly improved visual acuity, retinal sensitivity, and thickness in BRVO patients.
- Patients with good visual improvement showed retinal sensitivity improvements in eight of nine regions.
- Patients with poor visual improvement showed retinal sensitivity improvements in six of nine regions.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: To investigate changes in visual acuity and retinal sensitivity and thickness after intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IRI) for macular edema in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) patients. Methods: This study evaluated 34 patients with treatment-naïve BRVO and at least 6 months’ follow-up after pro re nata IRI. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was determined as the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). In nine retinal regions, retinal sensitivity was calculated by MP-3 microperimetry; and in nine macular subfields, retinal thickness was measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT); evaluations were performed before IRI and then monthly for 6 months. Results: IRI significantly improved visual acuity and retinal sensitivity and thickness. In patients with good improvement in BCVA (change in logMAR > 0.2), IRI significantly improved retinal sensitivity in eight of nine regions, i.e., in all except the outer non-occluded region, and in patients with poor improvement in BCVA (change in logMAR < 0.2), in six of nine regions, i.e., not in the inner, outer non-occluded, and outer temporal regions. We found significant differences in the trend profile in the foveal, outer occluded, and inner nasal regions between patients with good and poor improvement in BCVA. Conclusions: The findings suggest that IRI improves visual acuity and retinal sensitivity and thickness and that retinal effects may vary between patients with good and poor visual improvement.