Comparison of Each Retinal Layer Thicknesses between Eyes with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion and Normal Contralateral Eyes

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the difference in each retinal layer thickness in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) with resolved macular edema after intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injection and normal contralateral eyes..Methods: Patients with ischemic and nonischemic CRVO whose macular edema resolved after intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor injections and did not recur for at least 6 months, and a normal contralateral eye were enrolled. Each retinal layer thickness between CRVO and normal contralateral eyes was compared according to Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study subfields using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.Results: The thicknesses of outer nuclear layer, photoreceptor layer, and retinal pigment epithelium in central ring, ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, outer nuclear layer, and photoreceptor layer in the inner ring, and ganglion cell layer in the outer ring of CRVO eyes were significantly thinner than those of normal contralateral eyes (all p < 0.05). Whereas, inner nuclear layer and outer plexiform layer thicknesses in central ring of CRVO eyes were 23.86 ± 8.8 and 25.76 ± 7.6 μm, respectively, which was significantly thicker than those of normal contralateral eyes (19.52 ± 7.7 and 22.76 ± 6.5 μm; p = 0.019 and p = 0.043, respectively). Additionally, the mean best-corrected visual acuity of CRVO eyes were significantly correlated with photoreceptor layer thickness in central ring (p = 0.005).Conclusions: In CRVO eyes with resolved macular edema, the outer retinal layers were thinner as well as inner retinal layers, whereas inner plexiform layer and outer nuclear layer were thicker than normal fellow eyes. Additionally, photoreceptor layer thickness in foveal area had a significant impact on visual acuity in CRVO.

Evaluation of Central and Peripheral Retinal Vascular Changes in the Fellow Eyes of Patients with Unilateral Retinal Vein Occlusions

“…This was expected and consistent with the literature. 21 , 24 , 30 Koulisis et al 30 examined the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients and demonstrated that VD was lower in the superficial and deep capillary plexus in fellow eyes than in the control group. However, we failed to demonstrate any significant difference in the VD, FA, FAZ, and CMT measurements between the fellow eyes and the control eyes.…”

“… 15 , 16 , 17 In literature, there are studies evaluating the fellow eyes of patients with unilateral RVO with electrophysiologic tests, microperimetry, and retina layer thickness measurements. 10 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 Additionally, a limited number of angiographic studies were done to reveal retinal or choroidal vascular changes in the fellow eye using UWFFA in BRVO patients, adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope fluorescein angiography in CRVO patients, and OCTA in RVO patients. 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 However there is no study evaluating both peripheral and central subtle vascular changes in the fellow eyes of unilateral RVO patients at the same time.…”