Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the pathomorphologic features and the course of macular edema associated with retinal vein occlusion.
Methods: :
In this prospective study, 66 patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO, 49 central RVO and 14 branch RVO) were examined by Stratus OCT. We compared the central macular thickness and the different structural changes to visual acuity (VA) and to fluorescein angiography.
Results: :
We analyzed 310 OCT. The mean age was 62 years (range, 34 to 89). The mean follow-up was 14 months. During the first month, the mean VA was 20/80, 82% of RVO were non-ischemic, mean central retinal thickness was 510µm. The first structural change appeared to be an increase in outer retinal thickness. In 45 eyes, we observed cystoid macular edema (CME), which was usually associated to cystoid spaces in the inner retina or in the outer retina. CME was combined with serous retinal detachment in 21 eyes. The junction of the photoreceptors inner and outer segments was clearly distinguished in 31 eyes (69%). During six first months, central retinal thickness was higher in ischemic RVO (648µ) than in non-ischemic RVO (437µ, p<0,01). At each follow-up visit, the foveal thickness showed a negative correlation to the VA. At one year, mean VA was 20/80 and central retinal thickness was 390µ (outer retinal thickness was 176µ), 52% of RVO were non-ischemic.
Conclusions: :
The comparison of OCT to clinical data and to fluorescein angiography may be useful to evaluate the RVO effects, particularly at the time of therapeutic choice.
Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • retina