Wet age-related macular degeneration combined with branch retinal vein occlusion

Abstract

To disclose a case of wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) combined with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). The prognosis and the treatment are discussed. A 77-year-old woman presented with wet AMD of the left eye. The patient was treated with intravitreal injection of ranibizumab of the left eye with improvement of visual acuity and resolution of intra-retinal and sub-retinal fluid. One year after the last injection the patient developed a BRVO of the same eye. A flame shaped haemorrhage was observed, and OCT examination showed cystic macular oedema. Fluorescein angiography showed that there was an active lesion of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV), areas of ischaemia, delayed filling and emptying of the affected vein, micro aneurisms, and telangiectatic changes. The co-existence of BRVO and active WET AMD was documented by fluorescein angiography. The co-existence of both diseases has not been described in the literature until today. This co-existence makes the prognosis worse and diminishes the patient's visual acuity.KeY Words: branch retinal vein occlusion, wet age-related macular degeneration