RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To investigate the characteristics of patients with acute hemorrhagic central retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 124 eyes of 122 patients who were diagnosed to have central retinal vein occlusion within one month after onset and followed for six months or longer. Eyes were divided into three groups - ischemic, hemorrhagic and nonischemic - and the visual prognosis and complications were compared among the three groups. RESULTS: The hemorrhagic group had a tendency to be a male and younger than the other groups. The mean initial and final visual acuity of the hemorrhagic group was logMAR 1.23 and 1.54, respectively, and showed significant decrease rate of visual acuity compared to that of ischemic group (p=0.022), logMAR 1.31 and 1.35, respectively. Iris neovascularization (INV) / angle neovascularization (ANV) occurred in 6 eyes (7.4%) of the ischemic group and in 3 eyes (12.5%) of the hemorrhagic group. The mean period form the initial examination to INV/ANV occurrence was 4.67 and 2.33 months, respectively. All eyes of the hemorrhagic group and 4 eyes (66.7%) of the ischemic group with INV/ANV progressed to neovascular glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: The hemorrhagic group had a worse final visual acuity, a greater decreasing rate of visual acuity, and earlier occurrence of INV/ANV than ischemic group. Close follow-up and proper management are warranted in patients with acute hemorrhagic central retinal vein occlusion.