Size of Capillary Nonperfusion and their Prognosis in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Patients

Sudden loss of visual acuity and visual field can occur in the vast majority of BRVO patients. One third to half of the patients recover from impared cision even without specific treatment, but it is unlikely when complication such as macula edema, capillary nonperfision, neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhage are accompanied. The authors reviewed 55 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion(55 eyes) in regard of the size of capillary non perfusion, and divided them into two groups; the perfused group(15 eyes) in which the area of capillary non perfusion is less than 5 disc diameter, and the nonperfused group(40 eyes) in which the area is more than 5 disc diameter. The freqnency of the development of neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhage, and the final visual outcome between two groups were compared. Neovascularization occurred in 3 eyes of perfused group and 23 eyes of nonperfused group, and vitreous hemorrhage occured in 4 eyes of nonperfused group, and vitreous hemorrhage occurred in 4 eyes of nonperfused group. There was no statistic al difference between two groups in the final visual acuity.

Clinical Research on the Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

The clinical results in 102 eyes of 97 patients with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion(BRVO) were evaluated in aspect of distribution, associated findings, sequelae, early and final visual acuities, and the effect of argon laser photocoagulation. There were no significant differences in morbidity rate between male and female or between right and left eye. 68.6% of all BRVO were affected in superotemporal branch veins. As sequelae, cystoid macular edema in 58 cases, retinal neovascularization in 22 cases, vitreous hemorrhages in 14 cases, vitreous tractional band in 2 cases, and non-rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in 2 cases were found. Photocoagulation was performed with an argon laser at retinal neovascularization in 20 eyes, capillary non-perfusion and cystoid macular edema in 5 eyes, and retinal detachment in 2 eyes. Photocoagulation was an affective means of reducing macular edema and decreased the risk of neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhages from sites of large capillary non-perfusion and retinal neovascularization.