Steroids for treatment of Retinal Vein Occlusion

Abstract

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disease in adults. In both types of RVO, macular edema (ME) is a major cause of visual impairment. Treatment modalities have improved substantially in recent years, from laser photocoagulation to intravitreal pharmacotherapy. The breakdown of blood-retinal barrier due to VEGF and inflammatory mediator plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ME. These pathways lead to the treatment by using anti-VEGF and corticosteroid. The outcomes of anti-VEGF therapy are unprecedented, but responses to treatment may vary and frequent injections are required. Corticosteroids have been used as a treatment strategy for ME secondary to RVO based on evidence revealing that inflammation plays a crucial role in RVO. This article will focus on a brief review on the use of corticosteroid on treatment of ME 2^nd to RVO. Evidence available from prospective, multicenter clinical studies and from a selective literature search is reported.