The Effect of Posterior Vitreous Detachment on Visual Prognosis in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

The common causes of visual loss in branch retinal vein occlusion[BRVO] have been reported as the macular edema, macular non-perfusion and the vitreous hemorrhage due to neovascularization.These factors have close relationship with the status of the posterior vitreous. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors of visual prognosis in BRVO and the relationship between visual prognosis and vitreomacular status.Fifty-two patients with branch retinal vein occlusion in the department of ophthalmology, Yeungnam University college of Medicine were included for vitreo macular examination.The eyes were classified as two groups, vitreomacular attachment[Group I]and posterior vitreous detachment[Group II]. The incidence of macular edema was significantly lower in eyes with group I [Fisher's exact Testp<0.05].Final visual acuity was better than the initial visual acuity, regardless of the presence of posterior vitreous detachment [Paired t-testp<0.01].Group I developed higher rate of neovascularization and vitreous hemorrhage, but statistical significance was not noted.