Association between integrity of foveal photoreceptor layer and visual acuity in branch retinal vein occlusion
- Masafumi Ota (mahtann{at}kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp),
- Akitaka Tsujikawa (tujikawa{at}kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp),
- Tomoaki Murakami,
- Mihori Kita,
- Kazuaki Miyamoto,
- Atsushi Sakamoto,
- Noritatsu Yamaike,
- Nagahisa Yoshimura
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Published Online First 15 May 2007
Abstract
Aim: To study the correlation between the integrity of photoreceptor layer after resolution of macular oedema (MO) associated with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and the final visual acuity (VA), and to determine prognostic factors for visual outcome.
Methods: We studied retrospectively 46 eyes of 46 patients with resolved MO secondary to BRVO, the foveal thickness of which was less than 250 μm at the final visit. We assessed the status of the third high reflectance band (HRB) in the fovea using optical coherence tomography (OCT) at the final visit. Furthermore, we investigated OCT images taken at the initial visit to seek a prognostic factor for visual outcome.
Results: Between eyes with or without complete third HRB at the final visit, no differences were found in the initial VA or foveal thickness. However, final VA in eyes without complete HRB was significantly poorer (p = 0.0002). Additionally, the initial status of the third HRB in the parafoveal area of unaffected retina was associated with final VA; lack of visualization of the third HRB at 500 μm (p = 0.0104) or 1,000 μm (p = 0.0167) from the fovea on initial OCT images was associated with poor visual recovery after resolution of MO.
Conclusion: The integrity of the photoreceptor layer in the fovea is associated with VA in resolved MO, and status of the third HRB before treatment may be a predictor of visual outcome.
