Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection Therapy for Persistent Macular Edema After Idiopathic Macular Epiretinal Membrane Surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of intravitreal bevacizumab (ivBe) injection in patients with persistent macular edema after macular epiretinal membrane (ERM) removal. Methods: This retrospective study included 26 patients (26 eyes) with marked macular edema after complete removal of idiopathic macular ERM who received single ivBe injection (12 patients) or no treatment (controls, 14 patients). Main outcome measurements were central macular thickness (CMT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: In the ivBe group, the mean CMT +/- standard deviation (SD) changed significantly from 323 +/- 43 mu m at baseline to 306 +/- 41, 301 +/- 42, and 296 +/- 41 mu m at weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively, after treatment (P = 0.025, < 0.0001, and < 0.0001, respectively). The BCVA in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR)+/- SD did not change significantly from 0.50 +/- 0.15 at baseline to 0.46 +/- 0.11, 0.44 +/- 0.14, 0.44 +/- 0.14, and 0.42 +/- 0.13 at weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12, respectively, after treatment (P > 0.05 for all). In the control group, the mean CMT +/- SD changed significantly from 326 +/- 32 mm at baseline to 314 +/- 29, 308 +/- 29, and 307 +/- 30 mu m at weeks 4, 8, and 12, respectively, after treatment (P = 0.002, < 0.0001, and < 0.0001, respectively). The BCVA in logMAR +/- SD did not change significantly from 0.52 +/- 0.22 at baseline to 0.49 +/- 0.20, 0.47 +/- 0.22, 0.45 +/- 0.16, and 0.47 +/- 0.23 at modified weeks 1, 4, 8, and 12, respectively, after treatment (P > 0.05 for all). No significant differences were found for CMT or BCVA between the ivBe group and the control group at baseline and at any checkpoints after treatment (P > 0.05 for all). Conclusion: ivBe injection therapy provided no beneficial effects on CMT or visual acuity improvement for eyes with persistent macular edema after idiopathic macular ERM removal.