Functional-morphologic correlates in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion and macular edema

To investigate the relations among best-corrected visual acuity, retinal sensitivity, retinal thickness, and retinal volume in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion, and macular edema.

In 49 consecutive patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (mean age, 68.2 ± 9.9 years; 25 women and 24 men), macular function was documented by microperimetry and best-corrected visual acuity was determined on the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution scale. Retinal thickness and retinal volume were measured by optical coherence tomography, and mean retinal sensitivity was calculated for each of nine macular subfields on the retinal map obtained by optical coherence tomography. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated and multiple linear regression analysis was performed with 7 variables (age, gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, duration of branch retinal vein occlusion, nonperfused retinal area, and serous retinal detachment).

On multivariate analysis, best-corrected visual acuity was significantly correlated with both retinal thickness and volume in 4 of 9 retinal subfields (fovea, superior inner, inferior outer, and nasal inner). In contrast, retinal sensitivity was correlated with both retinal thickness and volume in all 9 retinal subfields.

Retinal thickness and retinal volume are more closely associated with retinal sensitivity than with best-corrected visual acuity. Measurement of retinal sensitivity may be useful for assessing branch retinal vein occlusion patients with macular edema.