The Role of PVD on Visual Recovery after Laser Treatment in BRVO with Macular Edema

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of the posterior vitreous detachment as a factor affecting visual acuity after laser treatment on macular edema in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). METHODS: We retrospectively studied the medical records of 55 BRVO patients who were treated with argon laser photocoagulation for macular edema. The eyes were classified as those with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD, group I, 21 eyes) and those with no or partial PVD (group II, 34 eyes). The visual acuity before and after laser treatment was compared according to the posterior vitreous status. RESULTS: The eyes with visual acuity gaining two or more lines, final visual acuity of 0.5 or better, and mean change of visual acuity after laser treatment were 66.0%, 38.1%, and 1.8 lines in group I and 41.2%, 32.4%, and 1.6 lines in group II, respectively (p>0.05). Factors responsible for no change or decrease of visual acuity after laser treatment were macular ischemia, macular degeneration or exudate, and epiretinal membrane. CONCLUSIONS: PVD can be a prognostic factor for macular edema with BRVO. We should carefully examine for the presence of PVD in eyes with BRVO.