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Compartment syndrome may not affect retinal vein occlusion types
Compartment syndrome in the optic nerve head may not play a role in the prevalence or severity of various types of retinal vein occlusion, the resolution of retinopathy or the visual outcome, according to a study.
In a prospective longitudinal study, cup-to-disc ratio was evaluated in patients with retinal vein occlusion treated by a single retina specialist from 1973 to 2000.
The study included 1,222 consecutive eyes: 768 with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), 183 with hemi-central retinal vein occlusion (HCRVO), and 271 with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Patients were further subdivided according to whether the retinal vein occlusion was ischemic or nonischemic.
Patients with BRVO, nonischemic CRVO or nonischemic HCRVO were seen once a month for the first 3 months, at four follow-up visits at 6-month intervals, and then annually. Ischemic CRVO and ischemic HCRVO patients were monitored at least once every 2 to 3 weeks due to the risk of developing neovascular glaucoma.
Cup-to-disc ratio was graded into three categories: no cup, a ratio less than 0.5, and a ratio of 0.5 or greater.
A cup-to-disc ratio of 0.5 or greater was significantly more common in all CRVO and HCRVO eyes when compared to age- and sex-matched healthy eyes.
Compared to eyes with a small cup or no cup, retinal hemorrhages were significantly more severe in nonischemic CRVO with a cup-to-disc ratio of 0.5 or greater. No difference was found in HRVO or BRVO eyes.
No significant association was found between cup-to-disc ratio and macular edema, retinopathy resolution, visual acuity or visual field defect.