This study investigated the baseline predictors of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) at 6 months in patients with treatment-naive branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). This multicenter, interventional case series included 208 BRVO and 123 CRVO patients with follow-up period of 6 months or more. Outcome measures of BCVA (logMAR) included absolute change from baseline and a gain or loss of > or = 0.3 from baseline. Outcome measures of CRT included absolute change from baseline and a measurement of < or = 250 microm or > or = 400 microm at 6 months. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were done to find baseline predictors. For BRVO, younger age, worse baseline BCVA, and shorter duration of symptom were associated with more gain in BCVA. For CRVO, worse baseline BCVA was associated with more gain in BCVA. For CRT outcomes, higher baseline CRT predicted greater decrease at 6 months in both BRVO and CRVO. Younger age and better baseline BCVA were associated with an increased likelihood of measurement of a < or = 250 microm outcome for BRVO and CRVO, respectively. For CRVO, smoking was associated with greater decrease from baseline and decreased likelihood of measurement of a CRT > or = 400 microm at 6 months. In conclusion, several baseline factors including age, symptom duration, and baseline BCVA and CRT are associated with BCVA and CRT outcomes at 6 months, which may help to predict disease course for RVO patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retina/*pathology ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/pathology/*physiopathology ; *Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: There is currently no treatment proven effective for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Radial optic neurotomy (RON) has recently surfaced as a new treatment for the disorder, however, and we compare here the visual acuity (VA) and arteriovenous transit time (AVTT) following RON and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, uncontrolled study of 27 patients. Of 27 eyes diagnosed with CRVO, 16 were treated with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) and 11 with RON. VA and fluorescein angiography were used to monitor the evolution of CRVO, and for follow-up. RESULTS: All patients underwent PRP or RON with no major complications. The difference between pre- and post-operative VA was not statistically significant for either group (p=0.092 on PRP; p=.0081 on RON). The change in AVTT was also not statistically significant for either group (p=0.024 on PRP; p=0.027 on RON). Ultimately, we found no statistically-significant difference in comparing VA and AVTT for the two groups (p=0.074 on VA; p=0.510 on AVTT). CONCLUSIONS: No evidence supporting the effectiveness of RON could be found in this study, suggesting that surgical decompression by RON may not be effective for treating CRVO. Further studies regarding the efficacy of RON should be made.
Visual Acuity ; Treatment Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/pathology/physiopathology/*surgery ; Retina/*surgery ; Optic Nerve/*surgery ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Laser Coagulation/*methods ; Humans ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Decompression, Surgical/*methods ; Aged ; Adult

PURPOSE: To document the clinical features of disc hemorrhage in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG), and to evaluate the relationship between BRVO and NTG with disc hemorrhages. METHODS: From July 2001 to May 2006, sixteen patients with both NTG and BRVO in different eyes were successively collected from outpatient population of Seoul National University Hospital in this observational case series. The frequency and location of disc hemorrhages, history of associated systemic diseases, and the order of the time of diagnosis between NTG and BRVO were studied. RESULTS: All patients had unilateral BRVO, and their mean age was 63.3+/-10.6 years. Disc hemorrhages were detected in eight patients (50%) during the mean follow-up of 26.8 months (range, 3-96 months). Six patients (75%) had disc hemorrhages in the non-BRVO eyes and two patients (25%) in BRVO eyes. Five hemorrhages (62.5%) were located at inferior-temporal quadrant of the optic disc. History of systemic hypertension was identified in 12 patients (75.0%). In 11 patients (68.8%), NTG was diagnosed at the same time as BRVO. CONCLUSIONS: A higher frequency of disc hemorrhages was identified in patients with both BRVO and NTG. Therefore, some cases of NTG, especially with disc hemorrhages, may share a common vascular pathophysiology with BRVO.
Adult ; Aged ; Eye Hemorrhage/*etiology/pathology/physiopathology ; Female ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fundus Oculi ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/*complications/pathology/physiopathology ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Optic Disk/*pathology ; Optic Nerve Diseases/*etiology/pathology/physiopathology ; Retinal Vein Occlusion/*complications/pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Visual Acuity