The Clinical Study of Retinal Detachment Associated with B ranch Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

The branch retinal vein occlusion is the second most common retinal vascular disease after diabetic retinopathy. Complications such as macular edema, retinal neovascularization, vitreous hemorrhage, epiretinal membrane may be associated. But, the retinal detachment may occur rarely in BRVO patients. We studied the clinical features of retinal detachment associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. We reviewed the medical records of 15 retinal detachment patients associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. Mean age was 54.7 years old and 10 patients(66.7%) were female. Hypertension was associated in 13cases(86.7%). The duration between the development of BRVO and the development of retinal detachment was shorter than 4 years in all cases and shorter than 2 years in 9 cases(60.0%). Retinal break was identified in 14 cases(93.3%), among which 13 cases(92.2%) were located inside the lesion of branch vein occlusion. The epiretinal membrane was frequently combined 8 cases(53.3%). The preoperative laser photocoagulation was done in 4 cases(26.7%). The primary surgical procedures included scleral buckling in 8 cases(53.3%), pars plana vitrectomy in 6 cases(40.0%), and scleral buckling with pars plana vitrectomy in 1 case(6.7%). Three cases(20.0%) required reoperations. The postoperative complications included the progression of cataract in 6 cases(40.0%), iatrogenic retinal tear in 3 cases(20.0%), epiretinal membrane in 2 cases(13.3%), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in 1 case(6.7%). The anatomic retinal reattachment was achieved in 14 cases(93.5%) and the visual recovery in 11 cases(73.3%).