The Clinical Study of Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Associated with Systemic Hypertension

ABSTRACT

Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion(BRVO) is the second most retinal vascular abnormality after diabetic retinopathy. Systemic hypertension is the most common combined disease. The author evaluated 38 patients of BRVO with hypertension regarding the clinical manifestations, viual acuity changes and the results of treatment. Medical or Laser therapy was selected according to the degree of retinal nonperfusion, macular edema and neovascularization documented by fluorescein angiography. The most common age group was sixth decade(39.5%) and the most common affected site was superior temporal branch of retinal vein(60.5%). The sequelae were macular edema(39.4%), perifoveal non perfusion, retinal neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhage. There were no significant differences in visual prognosis due to the states of blood pressure, vein occlusion site and timing of laser therapy. The better visual prognosis was observed in cases of without soft exudate or without macular edema or capillary non perfusion less than 5 disc diameter. The increased visual acuity of 2 lines or more were noted in 10(71%), 13(76%), 9(60%) cases respectively and showed stastiscal correlations(p0.05). We suggest that the medical and laser therapy should be considered according to the status of high quality fluorescein angiography of retina.