Retinal circulation times in branch retinal vein occlusion

To investigate the retinal hemodynamics in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), we measured retinal circulation times using scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO) and studied their relationships with clinical findings. Arm-retina time (ART) and arteriovenous passage time (AVP) were measured in 30 eyes of 30 patients. Mean ART was 13.07 seconds. ART showed no difference in relation to sex and systemic diseases, but increased with age. Mean AVPs were 3.00 sec. and 3.39 sec. in superotemporal and inferotemporal BRVO, respectively. AVPs were delayed significantly in occluded branch of retinal veins. AVP was delayed three-fold when the area of capillary nonperfusion was over 6 disc area, but showed no difference according to the duration of disease or macular edema. These results suggest that SLO may be a useful tool for studying retinal hemodynamics in BRVO.