Baseline predictors of visual acuity and retinal thickness in patients with retinal vein occlusion

This study investigated the baseline predictors of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) at 6 months in patients with treatment-naïve branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). This multicenter, interventional case series included 208 BRVO and 123 CRVO patients with follow-up period of 6 months or more. Outcome measures of BCVA (logMAR) included absolute change from baseline and a gain or loss of ≥ 0.3 from baseline. Outcome measures of CRT included absolute change from baseline and a measurement of ≤ 250 µm or ≥ 400 µm at 6 months. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were done to find baseline predictors. For BRVO, younger age, worse baseline BCVA, and shorter duration of symptom were associated with more gain in BCVA. For CRVO, worse baseline BCVA was associated with more gain in BCVA. For CRT outcomes, higher baseline CRT predicted greater decrease at 6 months in both BRVO and CRVO. Younger age and better baseline BCVA were associated with an increased likelihood of measurement of a ≤ 250 µm outcome for BRVO and CRVO, respectively. For CRVO, smoking was associated with greater decrease from baseline and decreased likelihood of measurement of a CRT ≥ 400 µm at 6 months. In conclusion, several baseline factors including age, symptom duration, and baseline BCVA and CRT are associated with BCVA and CRT outcomes at 6 months, which may help to predict disease course for RVO patients.