Early Retinal Hemorrhage Absorption Rate and Long Term Clinical Outcomes in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#We report the relationship between early retinal hemorrhage absorption rate (RHAR) and long-term clinical outcomes associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). @*Methods@#This retrospective study included 66 eyes with BRVO. We used a grid as a quantitative measurement unit for measuring the amount of hemorrhage, and calculated the RHAR by measuring variance between sums of the grids. We investigated the relationship of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central foveal thickness (CFT), and other long term clinical outcomes with RHAR. @*Results@#The RHAR in BRVO patients measured 16.46 ± 21.48 ∑grid/time (month). Improvement of BCVA (logMAR) was 0.28 ± 0.28 at 12 months, showing statistical significance with the RHAR (p < 0.01). We divided RHAR into two groups by 7.5 ∑ grid/month; slow and fast RHAR groups. Improvement of BCVA (logMAR) was 0.16 ± 0.23 in the slow RHAR group, and 0.38 ± 0.28 in the fast RHAR group, with statistical significance (p = 0.01). Regression of CFT was 133.12 ± 142.93 μm in the slow RHAR group, and 236.62 ± 131.55 μm in the fast RHAR group, with statistical significance (p < 0.01). @*Conclusions@#RHAR may be a prognostic factor during follow-up in BRVO patients.