Can Pre-Treatment Assessment of Aqueous Vascular and Inflammatory Biomarkers In Patients with Macular Oedema Secondary to Retinal Vein Occlusion Guide Treatment Options?

Background: Macular oedema following Retinal Vein occlusion is the second most common cause of visual loss due to retinal vascular disease. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists recommends intra-vitreal anti- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (anti-VEGF) for patients with glaucoma and in young patients & steroid injections in those with recent cardiovascular events. Treatment is, both, expensive and demanding on secondary care. There is no recommendation regarding pre-treatment biomarker testing to determine which would be a better treatment option.