Ophthalmodynamometry and corticosteroids in central retinal vein occlusion

This is the first report of the monitoring of the clinical progress of a central retinal vein occlusion by measuring the retinal venous collapse pressure using ophthalmodynamometry.

A 38-year-old woman with a nonischaemic central retinal vein occlusion received systemic prednisone. The dose of prednisone was increased and decreased both abruptly and gradually. The response was monitored by weekly measurements of visual acuity, retinal appearance and retinal venous collapse pressure. The retinal appearance was assessed by comparison of repeated stereo colour photographs and fluorescein angiographs. Retinal venous collapse pressure was estimated by taking the mean of four or more ophthalmodynamometric measurements.

An inverse relationship between the ophthalmodynamometric retinal venous collapse pressure and systemic prednisone dosage was observed. The visual acuity and retinal appearance remained unchanged throughout the follow-up.

Ophthalmodynamometry in this case was a useful method of quantitatively monitoring the response of central retinal vein occlusion to systemic prednisone. The response would not have been detected if only visual acuity and retinal appearance were used to monitor the progress.