Radial optic neurotomy may improve vision in patients with severe CRVO

Radial optic neurotomy appears to be a promising treatment for improving visual acuity in patients with severe central retinal vein occlusion, according to a retrospective study by researchers in Canada.

"These results should be interpreted cautiously because of the limitations of the study, including the retrospective study design and the use of Snellen visual acuity. Our data suggest that further evaluation of [radial optic neurotomy] is warranted," the study authors said.

Ezekiel Weis, MD, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Alberta in Edmonton evaluated 19 consecutive patients with active CRVO and visual acuity of 20/100 or worse who received radial optic neurotomy. They compared changes in vision with a control group of 38 patients matched for visual acuity who received observation only.

Investigators found that vision decreased by an average of 0.25 logMAR units in the observation group but improved an average of 0.29 logMAR units in patients treated surgically, according to the study.

"Multivariate linear regression modeling found that, having controlled for other significant predictors and confounders, the change in visual acuity in the surgery patients was 0.63 logMAR units better than in the observation patients," the authors said.

The study is published in the February issue of Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology.