Abstract: Objective To compare and analyze the short-term clinical efficacy of intravitreal aflibercept and dexamethasone(DEX) sustained-releaseimplant on macular edema (ME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Design Retrospective case series. Participants Thirty-six patients diagnosed with CRVO-ME in Nanjing Lishui People's Hospital from October 2018 to June 2021. Methods According to different therapeutic drugs, two groups were divided: aflibercept group (intravitreal aflibercept 0.5 mg) 17 cases (17 eyes), and DEX group (intravitreal DEX sustained-releaseimplant 0.7 mg) 19 cases (19 eyes). Clinical data between the two groups before surgery and 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after surgery, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), serous retinal detachment height (SRDH), central retinal thickness (CRT), photoreceptor layer thickness (PLT), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures BCVA, SRDH, CRT, PLT, IOP. Results There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative BCVA, SRDH, CRT, PLT, and IOP between the two groups (all P>0.05). One month after surgery, the BCVA, SRDH, CRT, and PLT of the two groups were better than before surgery (all P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05). At 2 and 3 months after surgery, the SRDH in the DEX group was significantly lower than that of the aflibercept group (P=0.021, 0.017, respectively), however, there was no significant statistical difference in BCVA, CRT, and PLT between the two groups (all P>0.05). At 6 months after surgery, the CRT in the aflibercept group was lower than that of the DEX group, the PLT was significantly higher than that of the DEX group, and the BCVA was better than that of the DEX group (P=0.005, 0.029, 0.036, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference in SRDH between the two groups (P=0.054). Conclusion Intravitreal aflibercept and DEX were proven effective for the patients with CRVO-ME, which significantly improve SRDH and CRT, and achieve visual benefits. Intravitreal DEX has better short-term efficacy in reducing SRD, with longer treatment intervals, while intravitreal aflibercept can maintain better visual outcomes during the treatment period. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2023, 32: 197-201)

Key words: central retinal vein occlusion, macular edema, dexamethasone sustained-release implantin, aflibercept