Role of the Vt i reous in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion in Association with Macular Edema and Neovascularization

ABSTRACT

The main cause of decreased visual acuity in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) are macular edema and vitreous hemorrhage due to retinal neovascularization.We retrospec- tively studied the association of macular edema, neovas- cularization and vitreous hemorrhage according to the vitreoretinal relationship in 51 eyes of 51 BRVO patients. The eyes were classified as having vitreomacular attachment (VMA) or vitromacular separation (VMS) and posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) state and studied macular edema and retinal neovascularization development according to the vitreoretinal realtionship. The prevalence of VMA was 37 (72.5%) of the eyes and VMS was 14 (27.5%) eyes. VMA group had macular edema in 75.7% (28 of 37 eyes)and no macular edema was present in VMS group.Those 42 eyes who had partial or no PVD, 35.7% (15 of 42 eyes)developed retinal neovascularization and 9 eyes of complete PVD did not occur neovascularization. Although no significant relationship was found, vitreous hemorrhage developed in 21.4% (9 of 42 eyes) of only partial or no PVD group. VMA and PVD state may influence the presence of macular edema and retinal neovascularization in association with BRVO.