Macular edema in central retinal vein occlusion: correlation between optical coherence tomography, angiography and visual acuity

To analyze the characteristics and the course of macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to determine correlations between clinical, tomographic and angiographic data, in particular including retinal ischemia. In this retrospective study, 53 consecutive patients with CRVO were included. At each follow-up visit, patients underwent complete ophthalmological examination, including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and OCT. Fluorescein angiography was performed at baseline and on demand during follow-up. 243 OCTs were analyzed. Mean age was 61 years and mean follow-up 13 months. The first structural change, observed very early after the onset of the occlusion, was a diffuse increase at the level of the outer nuclear layer without change at the level of the inner retina. This early change seemed characteristic of retinal vein occlusion. Cystoid spaces were subsequently observed in all retinal layers and were combined with serous retinal detachment in 51 %. During the first 6 months, central retinal thickness was higher in ischemic CRVO (mean, 691 μm) than in non-ischemic CRVO (mean, 440 μm, p < 0.01). In eyes with foveal thickness (central retinal thickness without subretinal fluid) of 700 μm or greater, peripheral ischemia was present in 69 % of eyes, final BCVA was 20/200 or less in 75 % and never reached 20/40 during follow-up. The integrity of the junction of the photoreceptors’ inner and outer segments was correlated with a better prognosis (p < 0.05). Foveal thickness was inversely correlated to BCVA at each visit and could have a prognostic value. OCT examination in CRVO revealed useful data for the diagnosis of CRVO and its prognosis. The largest macular edemas seemed to be the hallmark of ischemic CRVO.