Diurnal intraocular pressure in young adults with central retinal vein occlusion

In the older population, there is a well-known relationship between central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and glaucoma and ocular hypertension. In young adults, CRVO is a rare occurrence, the cause of which is not well understood. Seven patients under the age of 36 years with CRVO and no associated systemic disease underwent modified diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements (8:00 AM to 11:00 PM). Abnormal IOPs were found in the affected and/or the unaffected fellow eyes. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report implicating abnormal IOP as an etiologic factor in the development of CRVO in young adults. Only with diurnal IOP measurements were the elevated swings and peak IOPs detected. This finding suggests that abnormal IOP may be an important factor in the development of CRVO in young adults.