[Long-term follow-up and etiologic factors in edematous forms of central retinal vein obstruction]

We report a study of 61 cases of retinal vein occlusion, followed for 3-10 years. The oedematous form only were studied; 39 were branch vein occlusion (BVO) and 22 central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Of the CRVO's 5 were female, 17 were male, ages ranged from 5 to 75 years, averaging 58 years of the BVO's there were 19 females and 20 males with ages ranging from 27 to 79 years, averaging 61 years. High blood pressure and atherosclerosis were the most frequent causes. High intraocular pressures were mostly associated with CRVO (25%). Study of serum lipids and blood coagulation are most useful in CRVO in young patients. Platelet agreggation anomalies, protein C deficiency were seen in some cases. Visual prognosis is relatively good; bilateralisation was seen in 5% of BVO and in 9% of CRVO. Visual acuity better than 20/200 was observed in 87% of BVO and in 75% of CRVO.