-1- Abstract Original article Effectiveness of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusions Vesna Dimovska University Eye Clinic Medical Faculty, University “Saints Cyril and Methodius”, Skopje, Macedonia Corresponding address: Vesna Dimovska, “Cedomir Minderovic” 30, 1000 Skopje, Macedonia, Phone: +38970370379, E-mail address: vesnajdimovska@gmail.com Keywords retinal vein occlusion, macular edema, bevacizumab, optical coherence tomography Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate anatomical and morphological changes after intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin) in eyes with macular oedema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Material and methods: Twenty-two eyes (22 patients) with macular edema second- ary to central retinal vein occlusion (10 eyes, 45%) and branch retinal vein occlu- sion (12 eyes, 55%) were enrolled in a prospective study conducted at the Univer- sity Eye Clinic in Skopje. The patients were examined for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp examination, tonometry, fundus examination on dilated pupil with 78/90 D Volk lenses and Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT Topcon 3D 2000). Eyes were treated with three initial intravitreal bevacizumab in- jections of 1.25 mg/0.05 ml at a monthly interval. Retreatment criteria were based on central retinal thickness (CRT) evaluated on optical coherence tomography and change in BCVA. Results: Mean age in total group was 61.6 years; mean visual acuity gain obtained following treatment was 0.13 on Snellen’s chart. Average injections number was 4.91, with more injections applied in the group with CRVO. Average CRT difference following treatment was assessed on 265.18 μm, with greater CRT decrease in the group of CRVO. Mean follow up was 1.4 years. No serious or sight threatening ad- verse effects were registered. Conclusions: Bevacizumab has proven as safe, effective and beneficial for macu- lar edema secondary to retinal vein occlusions as primary therapy in treatment- naive patients. Our experience suggests that more injections are associated with greater reduction of macular edema. SOUTH-EAST EUROPEAN JOURNAL of OPHTHALMOLOGY 2019; 5(1): 1–8