Exudative retinal detachment following central and hemicentral retinal vein occlusions

We describe five eyes of five patients that developed an exudative retinal detachment following a central retinal vein occlusion (including one eye with a hemicentral [hemispheric] retinal vein occlusion). The time interval between the occurrence of the vein occlusion and the appearance of the retinal detachment ranged from 7 to 36 weeks in the four cases seen in the acute period. Each detachment involved the posterior retina and was associated with the development of marked retinal ischemia. Neovascular glaucoma occurred in two cases. The subretinal fluid completely or partially resorbed in the four eyes that were treated with retinal photocoagulation, but the final visual acuity was poor in all cases. Exudative retinal detachment is a potential complication of central retinal vein occlusion and in this series was associated with a poor visual prognosis.