Metamorphopsia associated with central retinal vein occlusion

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Retinal Diseases
• Visual Perception

Background:

• Central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) can cause significant visual impairment.
• Macular edema (ME) is a common complication of CRVO, leading to distorted vision (metamorphopsia).
• Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents are a standard treatment for ME in CRVO.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the persistence and quantification of metamorphopsia in CRVO eyes treated with anti-VEGF agents.
• To correlate metamorphopsia severity with retinal structural changes and treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 28 eyes with unilateral CRVO and acute ME.
• Treatment with anti-VEGF agents.
• Quantitative metamorphopsia assessment using M-CHARTS at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months.
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT) for retinal morphologic evaluation.

Main Results:

• Metamorphopsia was present in 50% of eyes at baseline.
• While ME resolved and visual acuity improved, metamorphopsia persisted in 16 eyes at 6 months.
• M-CHARTS scores showed no significant improvement from baseline at 6 months (p=0.604).
• Persistent metamorphopsia at 6 months correlated with baseline M-CHARTS scores and 1-month OCT findings (photoreceptor status, serous detachment, parafoveal thickening).

Conclusions:

• Metamorphopsia in CRVO is quantifiable with M-CHARTS.
• Visual distortion frequently persists despite successful ME treatment and visual acuity recovery.
• Early structural parameters at 1 month predict persistent metamorphopsia at 6 months.