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Venous oxygen saturation is reduced and variable in central retinal vein occlusion

  • Retinal Disorders
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To estimate the presence and variability of retinal hypoxia in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).

Method

Hemoglobin oxygen saturation was measured in retinal vessels of both eyes in 14 patients with unilateral CRVO. The noninvasive spectrophotometric retinal oximeter is based on a fundus camera and simultaneously captures two images at 570 nm and 600 nm wavelengths. Five of the patients were followed with repeated retinal oximetry images over time.

Results

The mean oxygen saturation in retinal venules was 31 % ±12 % in CRVO eyes and 52 % ±11 % in unaffected fellow eyes (mean ±SD, n = 14, p < 0.0001). The arteriovenous difference was 63 % ±11 % in eyes with CRVO and 43 % ±7 % in fellow eyes (p < 0.0001). The variability of retinal venous oxygen saturation was substantial within and between eyes affected by CRVO. Venular oxygen saturation improved with treatment and over time in all five patients that were followed.

Conclusion

CRVO eyes are hypoxic compared to fellow eyes and arteriovenous difference in hemoglobin oxygen saturation is increased. This is consistent with tissue hypoxia resulting from reduced blood flow. Further studies are needed to understand the correlation between hypoxia, severity of disease and prognosis.

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Acknowledgments

Supported by the Icelandic Fund for Prevention of Blindness, the Icelandic Center for Research (Rannís), the University of Iceland Research Fund and Landspítali-University Hospital Research Fund A-2013-041 and A-2014-033, the Memorial Fund of Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson, the Icelandic Nurses′ Research and Science Fund, the Icelandic Nurses′ Association Science Found, the Kristin Thoroddsen Memorial Fund

Conflict of interest

Einar Stefánsson and Sveinn Hakon Hardarson have financial interest in the retinal oximeter used in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Thorunn Scheving Eliasdottir, Sveinn Hakon Hardarson, Gudrun Kristjansdottir & Einar Stefánsson

  2. Department of Opthalmolgy, Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Eiriksgata 37, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Thorunn Scheving Eliasdottir, David Bragason, Sveinn Hakon Hardarson & Einar Stefánsson

  3. Department of Anesthesiology, Landspítali - The National University Hospital of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Thorunn Scheving Eliasdottir

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  1. Thorunn Scheving Eliasdottir
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Correspondence to Thorunn Scheving Eliasdottir.

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Eliasdottir, T.S., Bragason, D., Hardarson, S.H. et al. Venous oxygen saturation is reduced and variable in central retinal vein occlusion. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 253, 1653–1661 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2849-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2849-2

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