Peripheral Microvascular Abnormalities Detected by Wide-Field Fluorescein Angiography in Eyes with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

概要

To evaluate the location of microvascular abnormalities using wide-field fluorescein angiography (WFFA) and investigate the impact on visual outcomes in eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Forty eyes of 39 patients (24 male and 15 female, average age of 71 years) were retrospectively reviewed. One patient had BRVO bilaterally. WFFA was performed in all patients to evaluate perfusion status and detect microvascular abnormalities. The areas on WFFA images were divided into three groups; Zone 1: posterior pole, Zone 2: mid periphery, and Zone 3: far periphery to document the presence of microvascular abnormalities. Scatter retinal photocoagulation (PC) was performed for retinal neovascularization (NV) and/or widespread NPAs.

The incidence of microvascular abnormalities in Zone 3 was significantly (P<0.0001) less than those in Zone 1 and Zone 2. The presence of larger NPAs in Zone 1, but not Zone 3, was associated with the incidence of NV and vitreous hemorrhage.
Both the presence of peripheral lesions and application of PC did not affect the visual outcomes.

The presence of peripheral abnormalities or scatter PC for NPAs did not affect the visual outcomes in eyes with BRVO.