AIM: To analyze the therapeutic effects of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)drugs on patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO-ME)in different age groups.

METHODS: The study retrospectively reviewed 102 patients(102 eyes)with CRVO-ME treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab in ophthalmology department of the hospital between February 2017 and March 2019. The subjects were divided into CM1 group(under 50 years old, 50 cases, 50 eyes)and CM2 group(50 years old or older, 52 cases, 52 eyes), and were followed up for 12mo after treatment. The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT), intraocular pressure, average injection times, first injection interval, and complications were recorded.

RESULTS: After treatment, the BCVA of both groups was improved, and the CMT decreased. Besides, CM1 group had better BCVA and CMT than CM2 group at 9mo and 12mo(P<0.001). At 1mo, 2mo, and 3mo, the intraocular pressure of both groups was higher than that before treatment(P<0.01). The intraocular pressures of both groups was lower at 6mo and 9mo than at 3mo after treatment(P<0.05), which returned to the pre-treatment level at 12mo(P>0.05). Additionally, CM1 group had lower intraocular pressure than CM2 group at 1mo, 2mo, and 3mo after treatment(P<0.01). The average injection times in CM1 group was(3.24±0.35), more than(2.38±0.26)in CM2 group, and the first injection interval(1.75±0.19mo)was shorter than(4.13±0.42mo)in CM2 group(P<0.01). No serious complications such as cataract aggravation, retinal detachment, and endophthalmitis were observed in the two groups during follow-up.

CONCLUSION: The treatment with anti-VEGF drugs(ranibizumab)for CRVO-ME can significantly improve the patients' visual acuity, and reduce CMT. The condition can be significantly improved within 1mo after injection, without significant influence on intraocular pressure. Compared with patients over 50 years old, patients under 50 years old can obtain better results after treatment with ranibizumab, more significant improvement of visual acuity, significantly thinner CMT, smaller intraocular pressure fluctuations and shorter first injection interval.