Purpose: To report a case series, whereby we encountered a transient increase in retinal cotton wool spots (CWS) following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy for the treatment of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Methods: Eighteen eyes were treated with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA), and 5 were treated with intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR). Fundus photographs obtained 1 month after initial IVA or IVR injections were retrospectively evaluated for the presence of CWS. Results: Twenty-one (91.3%) patients had the following systemic diseases: hypertension, diabetes mellitus without retinopathy, dyslipidemia, or chronic renal failure requiring dialysis. One month after treatment, reduced macular edema was observed in 21 (91.3%) eyes. Initial injections facilitated complete resolution in 14 eyes, and CWS gradually became fainter with additional injections. Conclusion: Some eyes with CRVO-related macular edema can show a transient increase in CWS after initial anti-VEGF therapy; however, macular edema, retinal hemorrhage, and visual acuity were improved in almost every case.
Association of Disorganization of Retinal Inner Layers With Visual Acuity Response to Anti–Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy for Macular Edema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion
