AIM: To compare the difference of short-term efficacy of the intravitreal injection of conbercept(IVC)1+PRN and 3+PRN in the treatment of macular edema(ME)secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO).

METHODS:In this prospective, randomized, and comparative study, 40 patients who were diagnosed as ME secondary to BRVO were divided randomly into 3+PRN group(n=22)and 1+PRN group(n=18). Best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT)and mean injection times were compared between two groups in 6mo follow-up period. Baseline predictors of visual acuity(VA)were also investigated.

RESULTS: After treatment of 6mo, in the 3+PRN group, the BCVA improved from 0.86±0.22 to 0.41±0.12 and CMT decreased from 517.4±75.1μm to 280.1±41.8μm. The BCVA in the 1+PRN group increased from 0.79±0.20 to 0.42±0.14 and the CMT decreased from 472.7±80.7μm to 271.6±39.6μm. There was no statistically significant difference in BCVA or CMT between two groups at any time point(P>0.05). During the study period, the mean number of injections were 3.64±0.66 and 2.78±0.94 in 1+PRN group and 3+PRN group respectively(P>0.05). In both groups, age, duration, baseline BCVA and integrity of photoreceptor inner and outer segment(IS/OS)were associated with better VA at the 6mo after the first injection.

CONCLUSION: In IVC treatment for ME secondary to BRVO, 1+PRN and 3+PRN dosing regimens are both effective and achieved similar functional outcomes.