Fluid blood level in cystoid space resulting from central retinal vein occlusion

A hemorrhagic and cystoid maculopathy developed in a patient with a central retinal vein occlusion. There was an unusual finding of a fluid blood level in the inferior region of the central large cystoid space. This clinical finding has been associated with cystoid macular edema after aphakic/pseudophakic cataract surgery.

A case report is presented and a review of the literature was conducted to determine the frequency of this condition and gain knowledge of the possibility of the pathophysiology.

This is only the second case reported in the literature of a fluid blood level seen in a patient with obstructive venous retinopathy. The pathophysiology is likely to be the transitory bleeding of a retinal vessel into the cystoid space.

The finding of a fluid blood level in a patient with a BRVO or CRVO is a rare event. Since this condition has not been associated with diabetic hemorrhagic retinopathy, any diabetic patient displaying such a clinical finding should be suspected of having obstructive venous disease.