Intravitreal ranibizumab for the treatment of cystoid macular edema in Irvine-Gass syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the functional and anatomical outcome after intravitreal ranibizumab injection in 2 patients with cystoid macular edema (CME) related to Irvine-Gass syndrome.

Methods: Two patients with pseudophakic CME refractory to current standard topical treatment were enrolled in this study. Intravitreal (0.5 mg/0.05 mL) ranibizumab injection was performed. Baseline visits included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), a fundus examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and fundus fluorescein angiography (FA). The main outcome measures were changes in visual acuity, retinal thickness on OCT, and complications related to treatment.

Results: FA and OCT confirmed the diagnosis of pseudophakic CME in both cases. The initial BCVA was 5/100 in the first case. After 1 injection of intravitreal ranibizumab, retinal edema totally regressed and BCVA improved to 6/10. The central macular thickness (CMT) measured with OCT was 379 μm at baseline and decreased to 227 μm at the 16-month visit. The initial BCVA was 5/10 in the second case. It improved to 8/10 after 2 ranibizumab injections and remained unchanged at the 21-month visit. The CMT measured with OCT was 419 μm at baseline and decreased to 243 μm at the final follow-up. There were no ocular or systemic complications related to the intravitreal injections.

Conclusion: Intravitreal ranibizumab appeared to be an effective treatment of macular edema related to Irvine-Gass syndrome. Prospective controlled studies are warranted to compare the long-term safety and efficacy between intravitreal ranibizumab and other treatment options in cases of Irvine-Gass syndrome.